Dynamics and Mechanisms of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) Sorption onto Green Rust Sulfate

Batch kinetic experiments are combined with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to compare the sorption of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) with sulfated green rust (GR) in anoxic pre-equilibrated suspensions at pH 8 over a timespan of 1 h to 1 week. The XAS data suggest that all five divalent metals coordinate at Fe(II) sites of the GR sorbent, whereas the batch results show that GR exhibits bimodal sorption behavior, with fast but limited uptake of Mn(II) and Cd(II) and much more extensive sorption of Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) that continues throughout the entire experimental timeframe. We attribute these observations to differences in the affinity and extent of divalent metal substitution in Fe(II) sites of the GR lattice as controlled by ionic size. Divalent metals smaller than Fe(II) [i.e., Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II)] are readily accommodated and undergo coprecipitation during GR dissolution-reprecipitation. In contrast, divalent metals larger than Fe(II) [i.e., Mn(II) and Cd(II)] have a low affinity for substitution and remain coordinated at the surface following limited exchange with Fe(II)_(s) at GR particle edges. These results imply that GR may strongly affect the solubility of Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in reducing geochemical systems but will have little impact on the retention of Cd(II) and Mn(II).