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Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
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Thiolation of trimethylantimony: Identification and structural characterization
Zhipeng Yin1, Li Ye2, Wen Zhong1
1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|November 30, 2021
Summary
Researchers discovered trimethylmonothioantimony (TMMTSb), a new antimony species formed from trimethylantimony and sulfide. This finding advances understanding of antimony
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Geochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Antimony (Sb) is a re-emerging contaminant with toxicity and mobility dependent on its chemical species.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the diverse environmental forms of antimony.
- Understanding antimony speciation is crucial for assessing its environmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel antimony species in the environment.
- To investigate the formation pathways of a previously unknown antimony species.
- To elucidate the chemical structure and properties of trimethylmonothioantimony (TMMTSb).
Main Methods:
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) for separation.
- Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) for identification.
- Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy for structural analysis.
- Incubation experiments with microbial communities from environmental samples.
Main Results:
- A novel antimony species, trimethylmonothioantimony (TMMTSb), was identified and characterized.
- TMMTSb was formed from the reaction of trimethylantimony (TMSb) with sulfide.
- The molecular formula SbS(CH3)3 was confirmed, with evidence of Sb-S bond formation.
- Microbial activity, potentially involving sulfate-reducing bacteria, was linked to TMMTSb formation.
- Specific ionic forms, including [SbSC3H10]+, [SbSC3H9Na]+, and [SbSC3H9K]+, were detected.
Conclusions:
- The discovery of TMMTSb expands the known speciation of antimony in the environment.
- This finding provides new insights into the biogeochemical cycling of antimony.
- The role of microbial processes in antimony transformation is highlighted.
- Further research into thiolated methylantimony species is warranted to understand antimony's environmental fate.
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