Abstract
The purification property of pyrite was discussed by using in situ attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that there might be dissolution–adsorption precipitation equilibrium of heavy metals on the surface of pyrite, which is dependent on the surface oxidation of pyrite and the neutralization reaction of carbonate within pyrite. If there was excessive carbonate within pyrite, the “dissolution” of metals would be less than that of the “adsorption precipitation,” making pyrite exhibit its purification property. Based on this property, pyrite was used to process simulated wastewater containing Pb2+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Cr(VI) and Cu2+. Results showed that the efficiencies of metal removal exceeded 96%. In addition, reflectance spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy were also utilized to investigate the simulated metal-bearing wastewater treatment process. Analysis by diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy confirmed that the superficial hydroxyl groups in pyrite reacted with metal ions during the wastewater treatment process. Reflectance spectroscopy in the visible region was used to characterize the variation in particle size and specific surface area of pyrite during the wastewater treatment process, which explained its increasing activity when reutilized. Further, analysis by absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the process involved when using pyrite for the treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater was an adsorption–precipitation process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown JR, Bancroft GM, Fyfe WS, McLean RAN (1979) Mercury removal from water by iron sulphide minerals. An electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) study. Environ Sci Technol 13:1142–1144
Buckley AN, Woods R (1985) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of oxidised pyrrhotite surfaces. Appl Surf Sci 20:472–480
Chen J, Lu AH, Yao ZJ (1999) The application of natural iron-bearing sulfide to the treatment of Pb (II) wastewater. Acta Petrol Mineral 18:323–328 (in Chinese)
Davis JA, Kent DB (1990) Surface complexation modeling in aqueous geochemistry. Rev Mineral Geochem 23:177–260
Espana JS, Pamo EL, Pastor ES (2007) The oxidation of ferrous iron in acidic mine effluents from the Iberian pyrite Belt (Odiel Basin, Huelva, Spain): field and laboratory rates. J Geochem Explor 92:120–132
Guo M, Lu AH, Lu XY (1999) The treatment of Hg (II) wastewater by using natural iron-bearing sulfides. Acta Petrol Mineral 18:309–314 (in Chinese)
Hyland MM, Jean GE, Bancroft GM (1990) XPS and AES studies of Hg(II) sorption and desorption reaction on sulphide minerals. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:1957–1967
Jean GE, Bancroft GM (1986) Heavy metal adsorption by sulphide mineral surfaces. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 50:1455–1463
Jia JY, Zhao ZL, Xie XD (1999) A study on the technology of treating sewage water from electroplate factor with sulfide minerals. Acta Petrol Mineral 18:316–322 (in Chinese)
Knipe SW, Mycroft JR, Pratt AR, Nesbitt HW, Bancroff GM (1995) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of water adsorption on iron sulphide minerals. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:1079–1090
Lanigan KC, Pidsosny K (2007) Reflectance FTIR spectroscopic analysis of metal complexation to EDTA and EDDS. Vib Spectrosc 45:2–9
Lin YT, Huang CP (2008) Reduction of chromium (VI) by pyrite in dilute aqueous solutions. Sep Purif Technol 63:191–199
Lu AH, Chen J, Shi XJ (2000) One step treatment of Cr(VI) wastewater by using natural iron-bearing pyrrhotite. Chin Sci Bull 45:870–872 (in Chinese)
Lu L, Xue JY, Chen FR, Zhao LZ (2005) Dissolution of pyrite: an important study subject. Acta Petrol Mineral 24:666–669 (in Chinese)
Moradi K, Depecker C, Barbillat J, Corset J (1999) Diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy: an experimental measure and interpretation of the sample volume size involved in the light scattering process. Spectrochim Acta Part A 55:43–46
Moses CO, Nordstrom DK, Herman JS, Mills AL (1987) Aqueous pyrite oxidation by dissolved oxygen and by ferric iron. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 51:1561–1571
Nyavor K, Egiebor NO, Fedorak PM (1996) Suppression of microbial pyrite oxidation by fatty acid amine treatment. Sci Total Environ 182:75–83
Peng WS, Liu GK (1982) Chart integration of infrared spectra of minerals. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Sracek O, Gelinas P, Lefebvre R, Nicholson RV (2006) Comparison of methods for the estimation of pyrite oxidation rate in a waste rock pile at Mine Doyon site, Quebec, Canada. J Geochem Explor 91:99–109
Wu JG (1994) Technology and application of modern FTIR spectroscopy. Science and Technology Literature Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhang P, Chen YH (2005) Treatment method of thallium and heavy metal wastewater effluent from vitriol plant. Chinese Patent, Patent number: ZL200510100022.6 (in Chinese)
Zhang P, Chen YH (2006) The reflection spectrometer and quantitative analysis design. Spectrosc Spect Anal 26:971–973 (in Chinese)
Zhang P, Wang LF, Xu JC (2003) In situ DRIFTS study of the SCR reaction of NO over Ag/SAPO-34 catalyst. Spectrosc Spect Anal 23:46–48 (in Chinese)
Zhang P, Yang CX, Chen YH, Peng PA (2007) Phase distribution of thallium in pyrite and effect of carbonate in the procedure of thallium release. Acta Sci Circumst 27:166–170 (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Union Foundation of Guangdong Provincial Government and National Nature and Science Foundation Committee of P R of China (No. U0633001), and it is also contribution No. IS-1142 from GIGCAS.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, Cl., Zhang, P., Chen, Yh. et al. Study on the purification property of pyrite and its spectra on the processing of metal-bearing wastewater. Environ Earth Sci 61, 939–945 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0411-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0411-z