Coupled redox transformation of chromate and arsenite on ferrihydrite

The redox chemistry of chromate (Cr(VI)) and arsenite (As(III)) on the iron oxyhydroxide, ferrihydrite (Fh), was investigated. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to determine the composition of the adsorbed layer on Fh during and after exposure to solution-phase Cr(VI) and As(III). The individual exposure of Cr(VI) or As(III) on Fh resulted in the adsorption of the respective species, and there was no change in the oxidation state of either species. In contrast, exposure of Fh simultaneously to Cr(VI) and As(III) led to an adsorbed layer that was primarily Cr(III) and As(V). This redox transformation occurred over various experimental conditions at pH 3, 5, and 7 and in the presence or absence of O2, as demonstrated by in situ ATR-FTIR results. A similar redox transformation was not observed at a solution of pH 9, due to minimal Cr(VI) adsorption. Postreaction XPS showed that the majority of adsorbed arsenic existed as As(V) at pH 3, 5, and 7, while As(III) was the main species detected at pH 9. At pH 3 the redox chemistry between Cr(VI) and As(III) led to a As(V) product surface loading of ∼600 mmol/kg. Experiments performed in the absence of dissolved O2 resulted in less As(V) on the surface compared to experiments in which O2 was present for equivalent reaction times.