Comparative mechanisms of Cr(VI) adsorption on biosynthetically derived Iron-minerals

Abstract

In this study, Schwertmannite, Akaganéite and Ammoniojarosite were biosynthesized by different bacteria and characterized. Our results showed that bacteria are critical in mediating the mineral formation process: the morphology, crystallinity, grain size and specific surface area of each mineral varied upon different bacteria and culturing conditions. In addition, the formed minerals’ elemental composition and group disparity lead to different morphology, crystallinity and subsequent adsorption performance. In particular, adsorption difference existed in iron minerals biosynthesized by different bacteria. The maximal adsorption capacity of Akaganéite, Schwertmannite and Ammoniojarosite were 26.6 mg/g, 17.5 mg/g and 3.90 mg/g respectively. Our results also suggest that Cr(VI) adsorption on iron-minerals involves hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and ligand exchange. The adsorption only occurred on the surface of Ammoniojarosite, while for Akaganéite and Schwertmannite, the tunnel structure greatly facilitated the adsorption process and improved adsorption capacity. Thus, we conclude that the molecular structure is the primary determining factor for adsorption performance. Collectively, our results can provide useful information in selecting suitable bacteria for synthesizing heavy-metal scavenging minerals according to different environmental conditions.

References

[[1]] Ao M, Chen X-T, Deng T, et al.. Chromium biogeochemical behaviour in soil-plant systems and remediation strategies: A critical review [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022, 424(PtA): 127233.

[[2]] Vaiopoulou E, Gikas P. Regulations for chromium emissions to the aquatic environment in Europe and elsewhere [J] Chemosphere, 2020, 254: 126876.

[[3]] Ukhurebor K E, Aigbe U O, Onyancha R B, et al.. Effect of hexavalent chromium on the environment and removal techniques: A review [J] Journal of Environmental Management, 2021, 280: 111809.

[[4]] Islam M A, Angove M J, Morton D W, et al.. A mechanistic approach of chromium (VI) adsorption onto manganese oxides and boehmite [J] Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2020, 8(2): 103515.

[[5]] Aigbe U O, Osibote O A. A review of hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solutions by sorption technique using nanomaterials [J] Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2020, 8(6): 104503.

[[6]] Zhu C, Wang Q, Huang X-X, et al.. Microscopic understanding about adsorption and transport of different Cr(VI) species at mineral interfaces [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 414: 125485.

[[7]] Zhu J-Y, Chen F, Gan M. Controllable biosynthesis of nanoscale schwertmannite and the application in heavy metal effective removal [J] Applied Surface Science, 2020, 529: 147012.

[[8]] Chen G-N, Shah K J, Shi L, et al.. Removal of Cd (II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions by synthetic mineral adsorbent: Performance and mechanisms [J] Applied Surface Science, 2017, 409: 296-305.

[[9]] Xiong H-X, Liao Y-H, Zhou L-X, et al.. Biosynthesis of nanocrystal akaganéite from FeCl₂ solution oxidized by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(11): 4165-4169.

[[10]] Regenspurg S, Peiffer S. Arsenate and chromate incorporation in schwertmannite [J] Applied Geochemistry, 2005, 20(6): 1226-1239.

[[11]] Burton E D, Bush R T, Johnston S G, et al.. Sorption of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) to schwertmannite [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, 43(24): 9202-9207.

[[12]] Schoepfer V A, Burton E D. Schwertmannite: A review of its occurrence, formation, structure, stability and interactions with oxyanions [J] Earth-Science Reviews, 2021, 221: 103811.

[[13]] Gan M, Sun S-J, Zheng Z-H, et al.. Adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) by AlPO₄ modified biosynthetic schwertmannite [J] Applied Surface Science, 2015, 356: 986-997.

[[14]] Boily J F, Gassman P L, Peretyazhko T, et al.. FTIR spectral components of schwertmannite [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2010, 44(4): 1185-1190.

[[15]] Villalba J C, Berezoski S, De Almeida Cavicchiolli K, et al.. Structural refinement and morphology of synthetic akaganèite crystals, [β -FeO(OH) [J] Materials Letters, 2013, 104: 17-20.

[[16]] Lazaridis N K, Bakoyannakis D N, Deliyanni E A. Chromium(VI) sorptive removal from aqueous solutions by nanocrystalline akaganèite [J] Chemosphere, 2005, 58(1): 65-73.

[[17]] Deliyanni E A, Bakoyannakis D N, Zouboulis A I, et al.. Sorption of As(V) ions by akaganéite-type nanocrystals [J] Chemosphere, 2003, 50(1): 155-163.

[[18]] Zhang D-R, Xia J-L, Nie Z-Y, et al.. Mechanism by which ferric iron promotes the bioleaching of arsenopyrite by the moderate thermophile Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans [J] Process Biochemistry, 2019, 81: 11-21.

[[19]] Basciano L C, Peterson R C. The crystal structure of ammoniojarosite, (NH₄)Fe₃(SO₄)_W(OH)₆ and the crystal chemistry of the ammoniojarosite–hydronium jarosite solid-solution series [J] Mineralogical Magazine, 2007, 71(4): 427-441.

[[20]] Jin D-C, Wang X-M, Liu L-L, et al.. A novel approach for treating acid mine drainage through forming schwertmannite driven by a mixed culture of Acidiphilium multivorum and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans prior to lime neutralization [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020, 400: 123108.

[[21]] Karimian N, Johnston S G, Burton E D. Iron and sulfur cycling in acid sulfate soil wetlands under dynamic redox conditions: A review [J] Chemosphere, 2018, 197: 803-816.

[[22]] Schwertmann U, Carlson L. The pH-dependent transformation of schwertmannite to goethite at 25°C [J] Clay Minerals, 2005, 40(1): 63-66.

[[23]] Miyata N, Takahashi A, Fujii T, et al.. Biosynthesis of schwertmannite and goethite in a bioreactor with acidophilic Fe(II) -oxidizing betaproteobacterium strain GJ-E10 [J] Minerals, 2018, 8(3): 98.

[[24]] Zhang Y-Y, Zhu Z-Y, Liao Y-G, et al.. Effects of Fe(II) source on the formation and reduction rate of biosynthetic mackinawite: Biosynthesis process and removal of Cr(VI) [J] Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021, 421: 129723.

[[25]] Song X-J, Shi X-Y. Biosynthesis of Ag/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and their antibacterial and catalytic applications [J] Applied Surface Science, 2019, 491: 682-689.

[[26]] Harneit K, Göksel A, Kock D, et al.. Adhesion to metal sulfide surfaces by cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans [J] Hydrometallurgy, 2006, 83(1–4): 245-254.

[[27]] Vardanyan A, Khachatryan A, Castro L, et al.. Bioleaching of sulfide minerals by leptospirillum ferriphilum CC from polymetallic mine (Armenia) [J] Minerals, 2023, 13(2): 243.

[[28]] Bogdanova T I, Tsaplina I A, Kondrat’eva T F, et al.. Sulfobacillus thermotolerans sp. nov., a thermotolerant, chemolithotrophic bacterium [J] International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2006, 56(5): 1039-1042.

[[29]] Yi Q, Wu S-L, Southam G, et al.. Acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, drives alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in Fe ore tailings [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2021, 55(12): 8020-8034.

[[30]] Qin W, Wang C-Y, Ma Y-X, et al.. Microbe-mediated extracellular and intracellular mineralization: Environmental, industrial, and biotechnological applications [J] Advanced Materials, 2020, 32(22): 1907833.

[[31]] Zhu J-Y, Gan M, Zhang D, et al.. The nature of Schwertmannite and Jarosite mediated by two strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans with different ferrous oxidation ability [J] Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2013, 33(5): 2679-2685.

[[32]] Xiong H-X, Guo R. Effects of chloride acclimation on iron oxyhydroxides and cell morphology during cultivation of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2011, 45(1): 235-240.

[[33]] Xiong H-X, Liao Y-H, Zhou L-X. Influence of chloride and sulfate on formation of akaganéite and schwertmannite through ferrous biooxidation by acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells [J] Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(23): 8681-8686.

[[34]] Burstein G T. Iron oxides in the laboratory, preparation and characterization [J] Corrosion Science, 1992, 33(7): 1189.

[[35]] Bishop J L, Murad E, Dyar M D. Akaganeite and schwertmannite: Spectral properties and geochemical implications of their possible presence on Mars [J] American Mineralogist, 2015, 100(4): 738-746.

[[36]] Smith W L, Lampert J E. Crystal data for ammoniojarosite. NH₄Fe₃(OH)₆(SO₄)₂ [J] Journal of Applied Crystallography, 1973, 6(6): 490-491.

[[37]] Liao Y-H, Liang J-R, Zhou L-X. Adsorptive removal of As(III) by biogenic schwertmannite from simulated As-contaminated groundwater [J] Chemosphere, 2011, 83(3): 295-301.

[[38]] Wu F C, Tseng R L, Juang R S. Initial behavior of intraparticle diffusion model used in the description of adsorption kinetics [J] Chemical Engineering Journal, 2009, 153(1–3): 1-8

[[39]] Lazaridis N K, Charalambous C. Sorptive removal of trivalent and hexavalent chromium from binary aqueous solutions by composite alginate–goethite beads [J] Water Research, 2005, 39(18): 4385-4396.

[[40]] Arsenie T, Cara I G, Popescu M C, et al.. Evaluation of the adsorptive performances of rapeseed waste in the removal of toxic metal ions in aqueous media [J] Water, 2022, 14(24): 4108.

[[41]] Maleki S, Karimi-Jashni A. Optimization of Ni(II) adsorption onto Cloisite Na+ clay using response surface methodology [J] Chemosphere, 2020, 246: 125710.

[[42]] Tang W-W, Zeng G-M, Gong J-L, et al.. Simultaneous adsorption of atrazine and Cu (II) from wastewater by magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube [J] Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 211: 470-478.

[[43]] Akemoto Y, Sakti S C W, Kan M, et al.. Interpretation of the interaction between cesium ion and some clay minerals based on their structural features [J] Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021, 28(11): 14121-14130.

[[44]] Shan J, He M-C, Liu P, et al.. Antimony immobilization mechanism on schwertmannite: Insights from the microstructure of schwertmannite [J] Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2023, 359: 71-83.

[[45]] Jiang S-Q, Yan X-R, Peacock C L, et al.. Adsorption of Cr(VI) on Al-substituted hematites and its reduction and retention in the presence of Fe²⁺ under conditions similar to subsurface soil environments [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020, 390: 122014.

[[46]] Li X-F, Guo C-L, Jin X-H, et al.. Mechanisms of Cr(VI) adsorption on schwertmannite under environmental disturbance: Changes in surface complex structures [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 416: 125781.

[[47]] Tuladhar A, Dewan S, Kubicki J D, et al.. Spectroscopy and ultrafast vibrational dynamics of strongly hydrogen bonded OH species at the α-Al₂O₃(1120)/H₂O interface [J] The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, 120(29): 16153-16161.

[[48]] Rani M, Yadav J, Shanker U. Green synthesis, kinetics and photoactivity of novel nickel oxide-decorated zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst for efficient removal of toxic Cr(VI) [J] Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(2): 105073.

[[49]] Yao Q, Guo C-L, Li X-F, et al.. Synergy of oxalic acid and sunlight triggered Cr(III) -bearing Schwertmannite transformation: Reaction mechanism, Cr and C spatial distribution and speciation on the nano scale [J] Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2022, 329: 70-86.

[[50]] Zhang B, Chen N, Feng C-P, et al.. Adsorption for phosphate by crosslinked/non-crosslinked-chitosan-Fe(III) complex sorbents: Characteristic and mechanism [J] Chemical Engineering Journal, 2018, 353: 361-372.

[[51]] He J-J, Xu Y-H, Wang W, et al.. Ce(III) nanocomposites by partial thermal decomposition of CeMOF for effective phosphate adsorption in a wide pH range [J] Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 379: 122431.

[[52]] Nagoya S, Nakamichi S, Kawase Y. Mechanisms of phosphate removal from aqueous solution by zero-valent iron: A novel kinetic model for electrostatic adsorption, surface complexation and precipitation of phosphate under oxic conditions [J] Separation and Purification Technology, 2019, 218: 120-129.

[[53]] Liu Z-M, Chen G, Xu L-C, et al.. Removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater by a novel adsorbent of magnetic goethite: Adsorption performance and adsorbent characterisation [J] ChemistrySelect, 2019, 4(47): 13817-13827.

[[54]] Singh P N, Tiwary D, Sinha I. Improved removal of Cr (VI) by starch functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles [J] Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2014, 2(4): 2252-2258.

[[55]] Ajouyed O, Hurel C, Ammari M, et al.. Sorption of Cr (VI) onto natural iron and aluminum (oxy)hydroxides: Effects of pH, ionic strength and initial concentration [J] Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 174(1–3): 616-622.

[[56]] Ni C-Y, Liu S, Cui L-J, et al.. Adsorption performance of Cr(vi) onto Al-free and Al-substituted ferrihydrites [J] RSC Advances, 2016, 6(71): 66412-66419.