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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
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Synthesis and Reaction Chemistry of Nanosize Monosodium Titanate
Published on: February 23, 2016
Glutamate surface speciation on amorphous titanium dioxide and hydrous ferric oxide
Dimitri A Sverjensky1, Caroline M Jonsson, Christopher L Jonsson
1Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. sver@jhu.edu
Environmental Science & Technology
|September 5, 2008
Summary
Glutamate adsorption on hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) and titanium dioxide surfaces was modeled. Glutamate binds as a divalent anion at low coverage and as a monovalent/divalent anion at higher coverage, potentially enabling self-organization.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Surface Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) and titanium dioxide are key minerals for adsorbate attachment.
- Understanding biomolecule adsorption is crucial for environmental and biological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model glutamate adsorption on HFO using existing data.
- To compare glutamate speciation on HFO with titanium dioxide using ATR-FTIR data.
Main Methods:
- Surface complexation modeling was employed.
- Integration of published adsorption data for HFO.
- Analysis of in situ ATR-FTIR studies for titanium dioxide.
Main Results:
- Glutamate adsorbs as a deprotonated divalent anion on HFO at pH 3-5 and low coverage, forming chelating-monodentate and bridging-bidentate species.
- At higher coverages, glutamate primarily adsorbs as a monovalent or divalent anion via the gamma-carboxylate group.
- This binding mode may facilitate self-organization and peptide bond formation.
Conclusions:
- Glutamate adsorption mechanisms differ based on surface coverage.
- The study suggests a potential pathway for chiral self-organization and peptide formation on mineral surfaces.
