Rates of hydrous ferric oxide crystallization and the influence on coprecipitated arsenate

Arsenate coprecipitated with hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) was stabilized against dissolution during transformation of HFO to more crystalline iron (hydr)oxides. The rate of arsenate stabilization approximately coincided with the rate of HFO transformation at pH 6 and 40 degrees C. Comparison of extraction data and X-ray diffraction results confirmed that hematite and goethite were the primary transformation products. HFO transformation was significantly retarded at or above an arsenate solid loading of 29 455 mg As/kg HFO. However, HFO transformation proceeded at a significant rate for arsenate solid loadings of 4208 and 8416 mg As/kg HFO. At a solid loading of 8416 mg As/kg HFO, XRD results suggested arsenate primarily partitioned to hematite. Comparison of HFO transformation rates observed in this research to rates obtained from the literature at pH 6 and temperatures ranging from 24 to 70 degrees C suggests that arsenate stabilization could be realized in oxic environments with a significantfraction of iron (hydr)oxides. While this process has not been documented in natural systems, the predicted half-life for transformation of an arsenic-bearing HFO is approximately 300 days at 25 degrees C at solid loading < 8415 mg As/kg HFO. The projected time frame for arsenate stabilization indicates this process should be considered during development of conceptual and analytical models describing arsenic fate and transport in oxic systems containing reactive iron (hydr)oxides. The likelihood of this process would depend on the chemical dynamics of the soil or sediment system relative to iron (hydr)oxide precipitation-dissolution reactions and the potential retarding/competing influence of ions such as silicate and organic matter.