Interactions of selenate with copper(I) oxide particles

The chemical mechanisms responsible for the immobilization of selenate (SeO4(2-) from aqueous solutions on cuprite (Cu2O) particles were determined from batch experiments. This was achieved by performing both solution-phase analyses and characterization of solid particles by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques, after equilibration of cuprite particles with selenate-containing solutions at various pH values, solid-to-solution ratios, and ionic strengths. Two distinct mechanisms have been pointed out. In the acidic medium, where the acid-catalyzed dissolution of cuprite into CuI species occurs, the immobilization of selenate implies a redox reaction with transient CuI leading to the precipitation of copper(II) selenite, CuSeO3. In the absence of protons added in the medium, Cu2O is chemically stable and immobilization of SeO4(2-) is essentially due to adsorption in the form of an outer-sphere surface complex. The uptake level of selenate by Cu2O is markedly lower than that observed for selenite species in the same conditions.