New insights on Cr(VI) retention by ferrihydrite in the presence of Fe(II)

Effect of biochar-derived DOM on contrasting redistribution of chromate during Schwertmannite dissolution and recrystallization

Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM), is extensively involved in the recrystallization of minerals and the speciation alteration of associated toxic metals. This study investigates how BDOM extracted from tobacco petiole (TP) or tobacco stalk (TS) biochar influences the speciation repartitioning of Cr(VI) in environments impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD), focusing on interactions with secondary minerals during Schwertmannite (Sch) dissolution and recrystallization. TP-BDOM, rich in lignin-like substances, slowed down the Cr-Sch dissolution and Cr release under acidic conditions compared to TS-BDOM. TP-BDOM's higher O/C component exerts a delayed impact on Cr-Sch stability and Cr(VI) reduction. In-situ ATR-FTIR and 2D-COS analysis showed that carboxylic and aromatic N-OH groups in BDOM could interact with Cr-Sch surfaces, affecting sulfate and Cr(VI) release. It was also observed that slight recrystallization occurred from Cr-Sch to goethite, along with increased Cr incorporation into secondary minerals within TS-BDOM. This enhances our understanding of BDOM's role in Cr(VI) speciation changes in AMD-contaminated sites.

The influence of Mn(II) on transformation of Cr-absorbed Schwertmannite: Mineral phase transition and elemental fate

Schwertmannite (Sch) is considered as an effective remover of Chromium (Cr) due to its strong affinity for toxic Cr species. Since the instability of Sch, the environmental fate of Cr deserves attention during the transformation of Sch into a more stable crystalline phase. The ubiquitous manganese(II) (Mn(II)) probably affects the transformation of Sch and thus the environmental fate of Cr. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of Mn(II) on the transformation of Cr-absorbed Sch (Cr-Sch) and the associated behavior of SO42- and Cr. We revealed that the transformation products of Cr-Sch at pH 3.0 and 7.0 were goethite and Sch, respectively. The presence of Mn(II) weakened the crystallinity of the transformation products, and the trend was positively correlated with the concentration of Mn(II). However, Mn(II) changed the transformation products of Cr-Sch from hematite to goethite at pH 10.0. Mn(II) replaced Fe(III) in the mineral structures or formed Mn-O complexes with surface hydroxyl groups (-OH), thereby affecting the transformation pathways of Sch. The presence of Mn(II) enhanced the immobilization of Cr on minerals at pH 3.0 and 7.0. Sch is likely to provide an channel for electron transfer between Mn(II) and Cr(VI), which promotes the reduction of Cr(VI). Meanwhile, Mn(Ⅱ) induced more -OH production on the surface of secondary minerals, which played an important role in increasing the Cr fixation. In addition, part of the Mn(Ⅱ) was oxidized to Mn(Ⅲ)/Mn(Ⅳ) at pH 3.0 and pH 7.0. This study helps to predict the role of Mn(II) in the transformations of Cr-Sch in environments and design remediation strategies for Cr contamination.

Mechanistic insight into Cr(VI) retention by Si-containing ferrihydrite

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] causes serious harm to the environment due to its high toxicity, solubility, and mobility. Ferrihydrites (Fh) are the main adsorbent and trapping agent of Cr(VI) in soils and aquifers, and they usually coexist with silicate (Si), forming Si-containing ferrihydrite (Si-Fh) mixtures. However, the mechanism of Cr(VI) retention by Si-Fh mixtures is poorly understood. In this study, the behaviors and mechanisms of Cr(VI) adsorption onto Si-Fh with different Si/Fe molar ratios was investigated. Transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other techniques were used to characterize Si-Fh and Cr(VI)-loading of Si-Fh. The results show that specific surface area of Si-Fh increases gradually with increasing Si/Fe ratios, but Cr(VI) adsorption on Si-Fh decreases with increasing Si/Fe ratios. This is because with an increase in Si/Fe molar ratio, the point of zero charge of Si-Fh gradually decreases and electrostatic repulsion between Si-Fh and Cr(VI) increases. However, the complexation of Cr(VI) is enhanced due to the increase in adsorbed hydroxyl (A-OH-) on Si-Fh with increasing Si/Fe molar ratio, which partly counteracts the effect of the electrostatic repulsion. Overall, the increase in the electrostatic repulsion has a greater impact on adsorption than the additional complexation with Si-Fh. Density functional theory calculation further supports this observation, showing the increases in electron variation of bonding atoms and reaction energies of inner spherical complexes with the increase in Si/Fe ratio.

Fe(II)-catalyzed phase transformation of Cd(II)-bearing ferrihydrite-kaolinite associations under anoxic conditions: New insights to role of kaolinite and fate of Cd(II)

Cadmium-bearing ferrihydrite-kaolinite associations (Cd-associations) are commonly found in cadmium-contaminated paddy soils in tropical and subtropical regions. In the presence of anaerobic conditions caused by flooding, the creation of Fe(II) can facilitate the transformation of ferrihydrite into secondary Fe (hydr)oxides, resulting in the redistribution of Cd. However, the role of kaolinite in iron oxides transformation and changes in Cd chemical species have largely not been determined. In this study, Cd-associations were prepared for reaction with Fe(II) under anoxic conditions. The results obtained from powder XRD and EXAFS indicated that the presence of kaolinite association noticeably hastened the transformation of ferrihydrite into crystalline goethite. Specific surface area and electrochemical analyses revealed that smaller particle sizes and higher reactivity of ferrihydrite within Cd-associations collaboratively contribute to the acceleration. Chemical analyses demonstrated a significant negative correlation between ferrihydrite-Fe and aqueous-Cd, and a significant positive correlation between crystalline-Fe and residual-Cd. HRTEM analyses indicated that a portion of the Cd was incorporated into the crystal lattices of lepidocrocite and goethite, with the majority of Cd being sequestered within goethite lattice. These findings provide new insights into the roles of clay minerals in the geochemical cycling of Fe and Cd in paddy soils under anoxic conditions.

Clay minerals inhibit the release of Cd(II) during the phase transformation of Cd(II)-ferrihydrite coprecipitates

Clay minerals and iron (hydr)oxides are important geosorbents in controlling the migration of heavy metal cations in the environment. Despite the widespread occurrence of clay minerals/iron (hydr)oxides composites, their complex mutual effects on the fate of heavy metal cations are not well recognized. In this work, we investigated the effect of clay minerals on the redistribution of Cd(II) during the phase transformation of ferrihydrite containing coprecipitated Cd(II) (Cd-Fh). Three systems were considered: i.e., Cd-Fh, Cd-Fh/kaolinite composite, and Cd-Fh/montmorillonite composite. Our results showed that the transformation of Fh into goethite and hematite caused the release of Cd(II), while the presence of kaolinite and montmorillonite inhibited the phase transformation of Fh and the release of Cd(II), with montmorillonite being more effective in these process. Multiple factors contributed to the reduced release of Cd(II), including the retarded transformation of Fh, the buffering of solution pH, and the re-adsorption of the released Cd(II). Our findings show that clay minerals have multiple effects in reducing the release of heavy metal cations from Fh during its transformation process, which sheds new light on understanding the critical roles of nanominerals in modulating the migration and bioavailability of heavy metal cations in the environment.

Behavior and Fate of Chromium and Carbon during Fe(II)-Induced Transformation of Ferrihydrite Organominerals

The mobility of chromium (Cr) is controlled by minerals, especially iron (oxyhydr)oxides. The influence of organic carbon (OC) on the mobility and fate of Cr(VI) during Fe(II)-induced transformation of iron (oxyhydr)oxide, however, is still unclear. We investigate how low-weight carboxyl-rich OC influences the transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh) and controls the mobility of Cr(VI/III) in reducing environments and how Cr influences the formation of secondary Fe minerals and the stabilization of OC. With respect to the transformation of Fe minerals, the presence of low-weight carboxyl-rich OC retards the growth of goethite crystals and stabilizes lepidocrocite for a longer time. With respect to the mobility of Cr, low-weight carboxyl-rich OC suppresses the Cr(III)non-extractable associated with Fe minerals, and this suppression is enhanced with increasing carboxyl-richness of OC and decreasing pH. The presence of Cr(III) mitigates the decrease in total C associated with Fe minerals and increases the Cnon-extractable especially for Fh organominerals made with carboxyl-rich OC. Our study sheds new light on the mobility and fate of Cr in reducing environments and suggests that there is a potential synergy between Cr(VI) remediation and OC stabilization.

Enhanced sequestration of uranium by coexisted lead and organic matter during ferrihydrite transformation

The dynamic reactions of uranium (U) with iron (Fe) minerals change its behaviors in soil environment, however, how the coexisted constituents in soil affect U sequestration and release on Fe minerals during the transformation remains unclear. Herein, coupled effects of lead (Pb) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on U speciation and release kinetics during the catalytic transformations of ferrihydrite (Fh) by Fe(II) were investigated. Our results revealed that the coexistence of Pb and DOM significantly reduced U release and increased the immobilization of U during Fh transformation, which were attributed to the enhanced inhibition of Fh transformation, the declined release of DOM and the increased U(VI) reduction. Specifically, the presence of Pb increased the coprecipitation of condensed aromatics, polyphenols and phenols, and these molecules were preferentially maintained by Fe (oxyhydr)oxides. The sequestrated polyphenols and phenols could further facilitate U(VI) reduction to U(IV). Additionally, a higher Pb content in coprecipitates caused a slower U release, especially when DOM was present. Compared with Pb, the concentrations of the released U were significantly lower during the transformation. Our results contribute to predicting U sequestration and remediating U-contaminated soils.

Nalidixic Acid and Fe(II)/Cu(II) Coadsorption at Goethite and Akaganéite Surfaces

Interactions between aqueous Fe(II) and solid Fe(III) oxy(hydr)oxide surfaces play determining roles in the fate of organic contaminants in nature. In this study, the adsorption of nalidixic acid (NA), a representative redox-inactive quinolone antibiotic, on synthetic goethite (α-FeOOH) and akaganéite (β-FeOOH) was examined under varying conditions of pH and cation type and concentration, by means of adsorption experiments, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface complexation modeling (SCM), and powder X-ray diffraction. Batch adsorption experiments showed that Fe(II) had marginal effects on NA adsorption onto akaganéite but enhanced NA adsorption on goethite. This enhancement is attributed to the formation of goethite-Fe(II)-NA ternary complexes, without the need for heterogeneous Fe(II)-Fe(III) electron transfer at low Fe(II) loadings (2 Fe/nm2), as confirmed by SCM. However, higher Fe(II) loadings required a goethite-magnetite composite in the SCM to explain Fe(II)-driven recrystallization and its impact on NA binding. The use of a surface ternary complex by SCM was supported further in experiments involving Cu(II), a prevalent environmental metal incapable of transforming Fe(III) oxy(hydr)oxides, which was observed to enhance NA loadings on goethite. However, Cu(II)-NA aqueous complexation and potential Cu(OH)2 precipitates counteracted the formation of ternary surface complexes, leading to decreased NA loadings on akaganéite. These results have direct implications for the fate of organic contaminants, especially those at oxic-anoxic boundaries.

Mineralogical characteristics of root iron plaque and its functional mechanism for regulating Cr phytoextraction of hyperaccumulator Leersia hexandra Swartz

Leersia hexandra Swartz (L. hexandra) is a promising hyperaccumulator for Cr pollution remediation, but whether its Cr phytoextraction is subject to the root surface-attached iron plaque (IP) remains unclear. In this research, the natural and artificial IPs were proven to be comprised of small amounts of exchangeable Fe as well as carbonate Fe, and dominantly Fe minerals involving amorphous two-line ferrihydrite (Fh), poorly crystalline lepidocrocite (Le) and highly crystalline goethite (Go). The Fe content in the artificial IPs augmented with increasing induced Fe(II) concentration, and the 50 mg/L Fe(II) led to the identical Fe content and different component proportions of artificial IP (Fe50) and natural IP. Fh was consisted of highly aggregated nanoparticles, and the aging of Fh caused its phase conversion to rod-like Le and Go. The Cr(VI) adsorption results of Fe minerals corroborated the coordination of Cr(VI) onto the Fh surface and the significantly greater equilibrium Cr(VI) adsorption amount of Fh over Le and Go. The greatest Cr(VI) reduction capacity of Fh among three Fe minerals was found to be related to its most abundant surface-adsorbed Fe(II) content. The results of hydroponic experiment of L. hexandra showed that the presence of IP facilitated the Cr(VI) removal by L. hexandra during the cultivation period of 10-45 days, and consequently, compared to the Fe0 group (without IP), around 60% of increase in the Cr accumulation of shoots was achieved by Fe50 group. The findings of this work are conductive to furthering our understanding of IP-regulated Cr phytoextraction of L. hexandra.

Effects and mechanisms of Al substitution on the catalytic ability of ferrihydrite for Mn(II) oxidation and the subsequent oxidation and immobilization of coexisting Cr(III)

Al(III)-substituted ferrihydrite existing in natural soils is more common than pure ferrihydrite; however, the effects of Al(III) incorporation on the interaction between ferrihydrite, Mn(II) catalytic oxidation, and coexisting transition metal (e.g., Cr(III)) oxidation remain elusive. To address this knowledge gap, Mn(II) oxidation on synthetic Al(III)-incorporated ferrihydrite and Cr(III) oxidation on the previously formed Fe-Mn binaries were investigated in this study via batch kinetic studies combined with various spectroscopic analyses. The results indicate that Al substitution in ferrihydrite barely changes its morphology, specific surface area, or the types of surface functional groups, but increases the total amount of hydroxyl on the ferrihydrite surface and enhances its adsorption capacity toward Mn(II). Conversely, Al substitution inhibits electron transfer in ferrihydrite, thereby weakening its electrochemical catalysis on Mn(II) oxidation. Thus, the contents of Mn(III/IV) oxides with higher Mn valence states decrease, whereas those of lower Mn valence states increase. Furthermore, the number of hydroxyl radicals formed during Mn(II) oxidation on ferrihydrite decreases. These inhibitions of Al substitution on Mn(II) catalytic oxidation subsequently cause decreased Cr(III) oxidation and poor Cr(VI) immobilization. Additionally, Mn(III) in Fe-Mn binaries is confirmed to play a dominant role in Cr(III) oxidation. This research facilitates sound decision-making regarding the management of Cr-contaminated soil environments enriched with Fe and Mn.

Mechanistic Insight into Electron Transfer from Fe(II)-Bearing Clay Minerals to Fe (Hydr)oxides

Electron transfer (ET) is the essence of most biogeochemical processes related to element cycling and contaminant attenuation, whereas ET between different minerals and the controlling mechanism remain elusive. Here, we used surface-associated Fe(II) as a proxy to explore ET between reduced nontronite NAu-2 (rNAu-2) and Fe (hydr)oxides in their coexisting systems. Results showed that ET could occur from rNAu-2 to ferrihydrite but not to goethite, and the ET amount was determined by the number of reactive sites and the reduction potential difference between rNAu-2 and ferrihydrite. ET proceeded mainly through the mineral-mineral interface, with a negligible contribution of dissolved Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺. Control experiments by adding K⁺ and increasing salinity together with characterizations by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy suggested that ferrihydrite nanoparticles inserted the interlayer space in rNAu-2 where structural Fe(II) in rNAu-2 transferred electrons mainly through the basal plane to ferrihydrite. This study implicates the occurrence of ET between different redox-active minerals through the mineral-mineral interface. As minerals at different reduction potentials often coexist in soils/sediments, the mineral-mineral ET may play an important role in subsurface biogeochemical processes.

Highly stable and efficient Cr(VI) immobilization from water by adsorption with the La-substituted ferrihydrite as a naturally-occurring geosorbent in soils

Ferrihydrite (Fh) is a vital geosorbent in the natural environment. Here, Fh materials with lanthanum (La) substituted in varied La/La + Fe ratios were synthesized, and these La-Fh materials were investigated in-depth via adsorption kinetic and isothermal experiments to explore their adsorption performance for chromate [Cr(VI)] in soils. Material properties of La-Fh were further characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results clearly indicate that La³⁺ can be integrated into the Fh lattice, but the increase in La amount substituted into Fh is slowed down when the La/La + Fe ratio reaches to a larger value. Those La³⁺ cations that fail to become integrated may either get adsorbed or form a phase of La(OH)₃ on La-Fh surfaces. We also find that La substitution reduces the specific surface area (SSA) of La-Fh samples but raises their pH_pzc, which hampers La-Fh conversion to hematite and thus increases the chemical stability. These changes are related to the La-Fh structure and surface aspects, but they do not negatively affect the Cr(VI) adsorption efficacy, which can be promoted over a wide pH range to an alkaline pH. For instance, the maximum adsorption amount of Cr(VI) by 20%La-Fh is 30.2 mg/g at a near-neutral pH. However, the entire chromate adsorption processes are affected by H₂PO₄^- and humic acid due to their strong affinities for Cr(VI), but almost not influenced by NO₃^- and Cl^-. All the Cr(VI)-Fh reactions are well described by the fitted adsorption Freundlich model and conform to the pseudo-second-order reaction kinetic equation. The mechanisms which enhance La-Fh's adsorption ability for Cr(VI) are governed by chemical interactions, because La substitution can increase the hydroxyl density on Fh surfaces and thus improve the reactivity of La-Fh towards Cr(VI), leading to an evidently enhanced Cr(VI) immobilization onto La-Fh.

Insights into the evolution of Cr(VI) species in long-term hexavalent chromium contaminated soil

Compare to the content of Cr(VI), the distribution of specific Cr(VI) species in soil is rarely paid attention to, which may lead to an inaccurate environmental risk assessment of Cr(VI) contaminated soil or inability to meet stringent requirement for soil remediation. Herein, to reveal the primary mechanisms and factors controlling the evolution of Cr(VI) species in soil, the distribution of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) species in soils with different particle sizes and textures was systematically investigated by using a modified sequential extraction procedure and spectroscopy characterizations (e.g., SEM-EDS mapping). The results show that a significant proportion of Cr(VI) can be captured by minerals containing exchangeable calcium ions and metal oxide hydrates in the soil, forming a relatively stable adsorbed Cr(VI). Also, a small fraction of Cr(VI) can precipitate as calcium chromate with free calcium ion which is the most stable Cr(VI) species in the soil. The majority of Cr(VI) discharged into soil tends to be reduced by ferrous ions or minerals containing ferrous ions with a product of Fe(III)-Cr(III) coprecipitate. Therefore, the speciation of Cr in the soil is closely correlated to Fe and Ca. After the equilibrium of adsorption, precipitation, and reduction reactions of Cr(VI), the rest of Cr(VI) retains as the form of its original water-soluble state in soil. The evolution of Cr(VI) species and the content of specific Cr species in soil are mainly determined by the contents of iron, exchangeable calcium ions and metal oxide hydrates, which effect the Cr(VI) reduction, precipitation and adsorption, respectively.

Mechanistic insights into the interfacial adsorption behaviors of Cr(VI) on ferrihydrite: Effects of pH and naturally coexisting anions in the environment

Interfacial interaction of hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]) with ferrihydrite (Fh) plays a key role in the behavior of Cr(VI) in the environment. In this study, H2PO4-, SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, and HCO3- were chosen as coexisting anions to explore their inhibition of the capacity of Fh to adsorb Cr(VI). We employed X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to thoroughly characterize Fh reaction products before and after adsorption of Cr(VI). The results clearly revealed that pH has a marked effect on the extent of Cr(VI) adsorption onto Fh, and this process is also highly dependent on the types of anions present. H2PO4- exhibited the most evident inhibition of Cr(VI) adsorption, even at low concentrations. Similarly, the inhibition of Cr(VI) adsorption by HCO3- increased markedly with increasing pH. In contrast, SO42- only slightly competed with Cr(VI) for reactive Fh surface sites. The anions Cl- and NO3- exhibited almost no inhibitory effect on Cr(VI) adsorption. The differential order of adsorptive affinity of all six anions for Fh was as follows: H2PO4- > HCO3- > SO42- ≈ HCrO4- > NO3- ≈ Cl-. Based on these results, we further provide mechanistic insights into the complexities of Cr(VI) adsorption/desorption behaviors on Fh surfaces. Using Fh as a geosorbent, these interfacial properties could be exploited to mediate the immobilization and release of chromate from and/or into contaminated environments such as aquifers.

Synthesis of biochar@α-Fe2O3@Shewanella loihica complex for remediation of soil contaminated by hexavalent chromium: Optimization of conditions and mechanism

The reduction of hexavalent chromium combined with the process of dissimilatory iron reduction is an important strategy for microbial remediation of chromium-contaminated soil. However, its applicability is limited by the slow speed of bacterial bioreduction and the toxic effect of heavy metals on bacteria. Here, biochar (BC) was used as a substrate and was loaded with iron oxide in the form of hematite and Shewanella loihica to synthesize a BC@α-Fe₂O₃@S. loihica complex and thus achieve combined microbial-chemical remediation. After optimization by a Box-Behnken design, the optimal dosages of the complex, humic acid (as an electron shuttle), and sodium lactate (as an electron donor) were found to be 1.38 mL/g, 33.94 mg/g, and 12.95%, respectively. The Cr(VI) reduction rate in soil contaminated with 1000 mg/kg Cr(VI) reached 98.26%, and remediation could be achieved within 7 days. Characterization of the BC@α-Fe₂O₃@S. loihica complex before and after it was used for remediation by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved that the oxygen-containing functional groups and aromatic compounds on the surface of the BC participated in the adsorption and reduction of Cr(VI) and that the loaded hematite particles were fully utilized by microorganisms. Therefore, the BC@α-Fe₂O₃@S. loihica complex has great potential for the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil.

Efficient removal of mercury and chromium from wastewater via biochar fabricated with steel slag: Performance and mechanisms

Biochar derived from biomass is regarded as a promising adsorbent for wastewater treatment, but the high cost of modification is still a challenge for its large-scale practical applications. In this study, we employed steel slag as a low-cost fabricant and synthesized hydrothermally carbonized steel slag (HCSS), as a stable environmentally functional material for heavy metal removal. Typically, positively and negatively charged heavy metal contaminants of Hg²⁺ and Cr₂O₇²⁻ were employed to testify the performance of HCSS as an adsorbent, and good capacities [(283.24 mg/g for Hg (II) and 323.16 mg/g for Cr (VI)] were found. The feasibility of HCSS on real wastewater purification was also evaluated, as the removal efficiency was 94.11% and 88.65% for Hg (II) and Cr (VI), respectively. Mechanism studies revealed that the modification of steel slag on bio-adsorbents offered copious active sites for pollutants. As expected, oxygen-containing functional groups in HCSS acted as the main contributor to adsorption capacity. Moreover, some reactive iron species (i.e., Fe²⁺) played an essential role in chemical reduction of Cr (VI). The adsorptive reactions were pH-dependent, owing to other more mechanisms, such as coprecipitation, ion-exchange, and electrostatic attraction. This promising recycling approach of biomass waste and the design of agro-industrial byproducts can be highly suggestive of the issues of resource recovery in the application of solid waste-derived environmentally functional materials for heavy metal remediation.

A mechanistic study of ciprofloxacin adsorption by goethite in the presence of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

The adsorption behaviors of ciprofloxacin (CIP), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, onto goethite (Gt) in the presence of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (AgNPs and TiO₂NPs) were investigated. Results showed that CIP adsorption kinetics in Gt with or without NPs both followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The presence of AgNPs or TiO₂NPs inhibited the adsorption of CIP by Gt. The amount of inhibition of CIP sorption due to AgNPs was decreased with an increase of solution pH from 5.0 to 9.0. In contrast, in the presence of TiO₂NPs, CIP adsorption by Gt was almost unchanged at pHs of 5.0∼6.5 but was decreased with an increase of pH from 6.5 to 9.0. The mechanisms of AgNPs and TiO₂NPs in inhibiting CIP adsorption by Gt were different, which was attributed to citrate coating of AgNPs resulting in competition with CIP for adsorption sites on Gt, while TiO₂NPs could compete with Gt for CIP adsorption. Additionally, CIP was adsorbed by Gt or TiO₂NPs through a tridentate complex involving the bidentate inner-sphere coordination of the deprotonated carboxylic group and hydrogen bonding through the adjacent carbonyl group on the quinoline ring. These findings advance our understanding of the environmental behavior and fate of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the presence of NPs.

Sulfidation of ferric (hydr)oxides and its implication on contaminants transformation: a review

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in elevated concentrations of contaminants in the groundwaters and subsurface soils, posing a growing hazard to humans and ecosystems. The transformation of most contaminants is closely linked to the mineralogy of ferric (hydr)oxides. Sulfidation of ferric (hydr)oxides is one of the most significant biogeochemical reactions in the anoxic environments, causing reductive dissolution and recrystallization of ferric (hydr)oxides and further affecting the transformation of iron-associated contaminants. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the sulfidation process of ferric (hydr)oxides and the transformation of relevant contaminants. This review presents detailed reaction mechanisms between ferric (hydr)oxides and dissolved sulfide, and elucidates the factors (e.g. crystallinity of ferric (hydr)oxides, the ratio of sulfide concentration to the surface area concentration of ferric (hydr)oxides) that control the formation of surface associated Fe(II), iron sulfide minerals, as well as transformation of secondary minerals. Then, we summarized the transformation mechanisms of a variety of typical environmentally relevant contaminants existing in groundwater and subsurface soils, including heavy metals, metal(loid) oxyanions (arsenic, antimony, chromium), radionuclides (uranium, technetium), organic contaminants and phosphate/nitrate species. The general mechanisms of contaminant transformation involve a combination of release, reduction and re-adsorption/incorporation processes, the specific pathway of which is highly dependent on the properties of the contaminant itself and the extent of sulfidation. Moreover, the challenge of extending our knowledge towards in situ remediation, as well as further research needs are identified.

Chromium biogeochemical behaviour in soil-plant systems and remediation strategies: A critical review

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal that is heavily discharged into the soil environment due to its widespread use and mining. High Cr levels may pose toxic hazards to plants, animals and humans, and thus have attracted global attention. Recently, much progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms of Cr uptake, transport and accumulation in soil-plant systems, aiming to reduce the toxicity and ecological risk of Cr in soil; however, these topics have not been critically reviewed and summarised to date. Accordingly, based on available data-especially from the last five years (2017-2021)-this review traces a plausible link among Cr sources, levels, chemical forms, and phytoavailability in soil; Cr accumulation and translocation in plants; and Cr phytotoxicity and detoxification in plants. Additionally, given the toxicity and hazard posed by Cr(VI) in soils and the application of reductant materials to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) for the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils, the reduction and immobilisation mechanisms by organic and inorganic reductants are summarised. Finally, some priority research challenges concerning the biogeochemical behaviour of Cr in soil-plant systems are highlighted, as well as the environmental impacts resulting from the application of reductive materials and potential research prospects.

Synergistic chromium(VI) reduction and phenol oxidative degradation by FeS2/Fe0 and persulfate

It is a challenge to simultaneously treat the combined pollutants of chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) and organics (such as phenol) in wastewater. Here, a stable and efficient redox system based on FeS₂ sulfidated zero valent iron (FeS₂/Fe⁰) and persulfate (PS) was developed to synchronously remove Cr(VI) and phenol. 100% of phenol (10 mg/L) was oxidized in 10 min and Cr(VI) (20 mg/L) was completely reduced to Cr(III) in 90 min in the FeS₂/Fe⁰+PS system with a pH range of 3.0-9.0, respectively. phenol was selectively oxidized without re-oxidizing Cr(III) in such system. The surface-bound Fe²⁺ was the major reactive species to synchronously reduce Cr(VI) and oxidize phenol. The mechanisms were elucidated that the phenol degradation was accelerated by the generated Cr(III) complexing with its products, and that SO₄^2-, whose production speed was accelerated by the PS activation to oxidize phenol and FeS₂, was conductive to corrode Fe⁰ to regenerate the surface-bound Fe²⁺ for reducing Cr(VI) and oxidizing phenol. It is potential to develop a high-performance and large-scaled FeS₂/Fe⁰-based redox platform to remediate the complex pollution of Cr(VI) and organics.

Cu-Fe embedded cross-linked 3D hydrogel for enhanced reductive removal of Cr(VI): Characterization, performance, and mechanisms

Porous hydrogel, as a high-efficiency adsorbent for heavy metals, suffers the drawbacks of the use of expensive and toxic reagents during the process of preparation, further limiting its application ranges. Besides, the heavy metals couldn't be transformed into nontoxic species, which leads to the environmental pollution risk. Herein, a three-dimensionally (3D) structured Cu-Fe embedded cross-linked cellulose hydrogel (nFeCu-CH) was innovatively fabricated by a novel self-assembly and in-situ reduction method, which exhibited exceptionally enhanced adsorption-reduction property towards Cr(VI) wastewater. The results of degradation experiment exhibited that the removal reaction followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood first order kinetic model and the degradation rate constant decreased with solution pH and initial Cr(VI) concentration, while increased with nFeCu-CH dosage and temperature. Regeneration studies demonstrated that more than 88% of Cr(VI) was removed by nFeCu-CH even after five times of cycling. nFeCu-CH exhibited excellent reductive activity, which had a close connection with the superiority of 3D crosslinked architectures and bimetallic synergistic effect. And 97.1% of Cr(VI) could be removed when nFeCu-CH dosage was 9.5 g/L, pH was 5, initial concentration of Cr(VI) was 20 mg/L and temperature was 303 K. Combined with cellulose hydrogel not only could provide additional active sites, but also could restrain the crystallite growth and agglomeration of nano-metallic particles, leading to the promotion of Cr(VI) removal. In addition, coating with Cu facilitated the generation and transformation of electrons according to the continuous redox cycles of Fe(III)/Fe(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(I), leading to the further improvement of the reductivity of nFeCu-CH. Multiple interaction mechanisms including adsorption, reduction and co-precipitation between nFeCu-CH and Cr(VI) were realized. The current work suggested that nFeCu-CH with highly reactive sites, excellent stability and recyclability was considered as an potential material for remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewater.

Interaction between hexavalent chromium and biologically formed iron mineral-biochar composites: Kinetics, products and mechanisms

Biogenic Fe(II) is a dominant natural reductant to convert carcinogenic Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III). Field-applied biochar could promote microbial production of Fe(II) and form iron-biochar composites. Although there have been mounting research on the interactions of biochar or Fe(II) with Cr(VI), their coupling effects on Cr(VI) immobilization have been largely neglected. Here, iron mineral-biochar composite (IMBC) was prepared via biochar-mediated dissimilatory reduction of ferrihydrite or goethite by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and its reaction with Cr(VI) was investigated. IMBC was able to effectively remove aqueous Cr(VI) via reductive transformation by adsorbed Fe(II). The removal process nicely followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model. The removal ability of IMBC decreased with increasing pH (5.5-8.0) but was independent of ionic strength changes (0-100 mM). After reaction, the Fe-Cr coprecipitates formed on IMBC exhibited slightly higher Fe/Cr ratios (0.93-0.96) than those on corresponding iron mineral controls (0.88-0.94). For IMBC, while the presence of biochar decreased the reactivity of adsorbed Fe(II), their removal capacities were ~30% higher than those of iron minerals alone, due to the enhanced yields of adsorbed Fe(II). These findings improved our knowledge of interactions among biochar, iron mineral and iron-reducing bacteria and their contribution to chromium immobilization.

Catalytic properties of transition metals modified nanoscale zero-valent iron for simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol and Cr(VI): Efficacy, descriptor and reductive mechanisms

Since chlorophenols (CPs) and Cr(VI) are two types of common pollutants in the environment, developing an effective approach to remove these contaminants has important benefits for public health. However, few efforts have been made so far. In this study, we prepared nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and a series of bimetallic nanoparticles (transition-metal modified nZVI) to investigate their catalytic properties for the simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and Cr(VI). While nZVI enabled a fast removal of Cr(VI), it had a poor dechlorination ability. However, effective simultaneous removal of 4-CP and Cr(VI) was achieved with the transition metal modified nZVI, especially in the Pd/Fe bimetallic system. The enhanced catalytic activity of transition metal modified nZVI was primarily attributed to the formations of numerous nano-galvanic cells and atomic hydrogen species that facilitated electron transfer in the reaction system and played a key role in triggering the C-Cl bond cleavage, respectively. According to the dechlorination ability, the transition-metal catalysts examined in this study can be divided into three groups in descending order: the first being Pd and Ni, the second including Cu and Pt, while the last consisting of Au and Ag. The catalytic hydrodechlorination activity of bimetals can be well described by the volcano curve and rationally explained by the hydrogen adsorption energies on the metals, and was severely impaired by increasing Cr(VI) concentrations. Characterization results validated the formations of Fe(III)-Cr(III) hydroxide/oxyhydroxide on the bimetals surface after reacting with 4-CP and Cr(VI). This work provides the first insight into the catalytic properties of transition-metal modified nZVI for the effective removal of combined pollutants.

Insight into efficient removal of Cr(VI) by magnetite immobilized with Lysinibacillus sp. JLT12: Mechanism and performance

In this work, Lysinibacillus sp. JLT12 was used to remove the Cr(VI)-induced passive layer on the magnetite. Mechanism study via dynamic kinetics, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that Lysinibacillus sp. JLT12 could remove the passive layer (lepidocrocite and goethite) to facilitate the further Cr(VI) reduction by magnetite. For large-scale applications, porous ceramsite (PC) was prepared with magnetite, kaolin, and fallen leaves. Lysinibacillus sp. was then immobilized on the holes in PC. Slow-released nutrients were added to immobilized porous ceramsite (IM-PC) at a ratio of 1.5:10 (g/g) to supply carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to Lysinibacillus sp. JLT12 with low secondary pollution. The performance of IM-PC was evaluated via a column experiment. The results indicate that, in the presence of Lysinibacillus, the break-through time and maximum adsorption ability of IM-PC were 11.67 h and 121.47 mg/g, respectively. These values are higher than those of PC. Additionally, break-through curves detected at 5, 10, and 15 days demonstrated that the usage life of IM-PC was significantly longer than that of PC.

Ball milled Fe0@FeS hybrids coupled with peroxydisulfate for Cr(VI) and phenol removal: Novel surface reduction and activation mechanisms

Fe⁰@FeS hybrids were synthesized by ball milling and applied to couple with peroxydisulfate (PS) for Cr(VI) reduction and phenol oxidation. A synergistic effect between Fe⁰ and FeS for contaminants removal was found in experimental results. The removal rates of Cr(VI) and phenol by ball milled Fe⁰@FeS hybrids coupled with PS were 97% and 88.7% (initial concentrations of Cr(VI) and phenol are 35 and 40 mg/L, respectively), indicating a successful treatment method for industrial wastewater containing metals, metalloids and organic pollutants. Concentrations of Cr(VI) lower than 45 mg/L could promote the degradation of phenol, while high concentration of Cr(VI) inhibited phenol degradation. Acidic conditions were beneficial to Cr(VI) and phenol removal. Scan electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis suggested that surface morphology and element valence of ball milled Fe⁰@FeS hybrids changed after reaction. Radicals quenching experiment and EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) results illustrated that SO₄•^- and HO• were major free radical species for phenol degradation. Fe(II) quenching experiment revealed that surface-bound Fe(II) instead of dissolved Fe(II) mainly participated in Cr(VI) reduction and PS activation. This study illustrated novel surface reduction of Cr(VI) and surface activation of PS by ball milled Fe⁰@FeS hybrids, providing useful perspective for applying ball milled Fe⁰@FeS hybrids for complex wastewater treatment.

Behaviors and fate of adsorbed Cr(VI) during Fe(II)-induced transformation of ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates

The mobility of Cr(VI) in the environment is affected by the transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh) and ferrihydrite-humic acid co-precipitates (Fh-HA). However, the impacts of Fe(II)-induced transformation of Fh and Fh-HA on the mobility, speciation and partitioning of associated Cr(VI) remain unclear. In this study, the behaviors of adsorbed Cr(VI) during Fh and Fh-HA aging at 70 °C for 9 days (pH₀ = 3.0 and 7.0) in the absence and presence of Fe(II) were studied. Results revealed that the main speciation of Cr(VI) after transformation was non-desorbable Cr and its formation involved the following pathways. Firstly, Fe(II) (0.2 and 2.0 mM) induced the transformation of Fh-HA to hematite and goethite, promoting the structural incorporation of adsorbed Cr into hematite and goethite via complexation. Secondly, under neutral condition (pH₀ = 7.0), the low concentration of Fe(II) (0.2 mM) could not reduce completely Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and thus residual Cr(VI) was incorporated into the Cr(III)-Fe(III) co-precipitates. Thirdly, coprecipitated humic acid not only reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) via polysaccharide, but also formed complexes with incorporated Cr through carboxylic groups to sequester Cr. Our results demonstrate that Fe(II)-induced transformation of Fh-HA exerts major influences on associated Cr(VI) speciation and partitioning.

Adsorption and bonding strength of chromium species by ferrihydrite from acidic aqueous solutions

The adsorption behavior of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions onto laboratory-synthesized 2-line ferrihydrite was investigated under a batch method as a function of initial chromium concentration (0.1-1000 mg L-1) and pH (3.0 and 5.0). Moreover, the effect of the type of anion (chloride and sulfate) on Cr(III) adsorption was studied. The affinity of Cr(III) ions for the ferrihydrite surface depended on both the type of anion and pH of the solution and the maximum adsorption capacities decreased as follows: q (SO4 2-, pH 5.0) > q (SO4 2-, pH 3.0) > q (Cl-, pH 5.0) > q (Cl-, pH 3.0), and were found to be 86.06 mg g-1, 83.59 mg g-1, 61.51 mg g-1 and 40.67 mg g-1, respectively. Cr(VI) ions were bound to ferrihydrite in higher amounts then Cr(III) ions and the maximum adsorption capacity increased as the pH of the solution decreased and was 53.14 mg g-1 at pH 5.0 and 83.73 mg g-1 at pH 3.0. The adsorption process of Cr species was pH dependent, and the ions were bound to the surface of ferrihydrite by surface complexation. The Sips isotherm was the best-fit model to the results obtained from among the four isotherm models used, i.e., Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Sips, indicating different adsorption centers participate in Cr uptake. In order to assess the bonding strength of the adsorbed chromium ions the modified BCR procedure, dedicated to the samples with a high iron content, was used. The results of the sequential extraction showed that Cr(III) ions were bound mainly in the immobile residual fraction and Cr(VI) ions were bound in the reducible fraction. The presence of Fe (oxyhydr)oxides in soil and sediments increases their adsorption capacity for Cr, in particular for hexavalent Cr in an acid environment due to their properties (high pHPZC).

Interaction mechanism of dissolved Cr(VI) and manganite in the presence of goethite coating

Hexavalent chromium has aroused a series of environmental concerns due to its high mobility and toxicity. Iron and manganese oxides usually coexist in the environments and influence the speciation and geochemical cycling of chromium. However, the interaction mechanism of iron-manganese oxides with dissolved Cr(VI) remains largely unknown. In this work, the interaction processes of dissolved Cr(VI) and manganite in the presence of goethite coating were investigated, and the effects of pH (2.0-9.0) and iron oxide content were also studied. Manganite-goethite composites were formed with uniform micromorphologies in the system of manganite and Fe(II). In the reaction system of single manganite and Cr(VI), manganite could only adsorb but not reduce Cr(VI), with the adsorption amount decreasing at higher pHs. In the reaction system of manganite-goethite composites and Cr(VI), adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by Fe(II) on composites surface. The generated Cr(III) was then retained as Cr(OH)₃ on the mineral surface. Goethite coating suppressed the re-oxidation of newly formed Cr(III) by manganite. The amounts of adsorbed Cr(VI) and generated Cr(III) increased with increasing iron oxide content, and increased first and then decreased with increasing pH. The Cr(III) formation and Cr(VI) adsorption amount reached the maximum at pH 5.0-6.0. The present work highlights the transformation and retention of Cr(VI) by iron-manganese oxides and provides potential implications for the use of such oxides in the remediation of Cr(VI) polluted waters and soils.

Enhanced removal of chromium(vi) by Fe(iii)-reducing bacterium coated ZVI for wastewater treatment: batch and column experiments

In order to effectively destroy the structure of the passive oxidation film that covers zero-valent iron (ZVI), an Fe(iii)-reducing strain, namely Morganella sp., was isolated from anaerobic activated sludge and coated on ZVI, which was distributed in porous ceramsite made of iron dust, kaolin and straw, with a ratio of 7 : 3 : 1. Batch experiments showed that under the optimized conditions, the maximum removal amount of Cr(vi) by ZVI increased from 7.33 mg g⁻¹ to 26.87 mg g⁻¹ in the presence of the Fe(iii)-reducing bacterium. The column experiment was performed with the addition of the agar globules to supply nutrients to the strain. Compared with ZVI, the column penetration time and maximum capture amount of RB-ZVI increased to 17 h and 112.5 mg g⁻¹, respectively, on the 15^th day. Furthermore, the service life of RB-ZVI was prolonged in the existence of the strain. Based on X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, the key mechanisms for the removal of Cr(vi) by ZVI coated with Fe(iii)-reducing bacterium were determined to be adsorption, reduction, coprecipitation and biomineralization.

To effectively destroy the structure of the passive oxidation film covering zero-valent iron (ZVI), an Fe(iii)-reducing strain, Morganella sp., was isolated from anaerobic activated sludge and coated on the ZVI.