Tungstate sorption mechanisms on boehmite: Systematic uptake studies and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis

Emerging activated tungsten dust: Source, environmental behaviors, and health effects

Fusion energy investigation has stepped to a new stage adopting deuterium and tritium as fuels from the previous stage concentrating hydrogen plasma physics. Special radiation safety issues would be introduced during this stage. In addition to industrial and military uses, tungsten is also regarded as the most promising plasma facing material for fusion reactors. During the operation of fusion reactors, tungsten-based plasma facing materials can be activated via neutron nuclear reaction. Meanwhile, activated tungsten dust can be produced when high-energy plasma interacts with the tungsten-based plasma facing materials, namely plasma wall interaction. Activated tungsten dust would be an emerging environmental pollutant with radiation toxicity containing various radionuclides in addition to the chemical toxicity of tungsten itself. Nonetheless, the historical underestimation of its environmental availability has led to limited research on tungsten compared to other environmental contaminants. This paper presents the first systematic review on the safety issue of emerging activated tungsten dust, encompassing source terms, environmental behaviors, and health effects. The key contents are as follows: 1) to detail the source terms of activated tungsten dust from aspects of tungsten basic properties, generation mechanism, physical morphology and chemical component, radioactivity, as well as potential release pathways, 2) to illustrate the environmental behaviors from aspects of atmospheric dispersion and deposition, transformation and migration in soil, as well as plant absorption and distribution, 3) to identify the toxicity and health effects from aspects of toxicity to plants, distribution in human body, as well as health effects by radiation and chemical toxicity, 4) based on the research progress, research and development issues needed are also pointed out to better knowledge of safety issue of activated tungsten dust, which would be beneficial to the area of fusion energy and ecological impact caused by the routine tungsten related industrial and military applications.

Deciphering the Structure of Tungstate and Molybdate Complexes with Glucose, Mannose, and Erythrose

Combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy near-edge structure (XANES), and density functional theory (DFT), we elucidate the structures of tungstate and molybdate with sugars of interest in the conversion of biomass to platform chemicals (glucose, mannose, and erythrose). We highlight a number of complexes, including one nearly isostructural structure that is formed with each metal-sugar combination. We also emphasize the singular reactivity of erythrose that undergoes retro-aldolization at room temperature.

Elucidation of Metal-Sugar Complexes: When Tungstate Combines with d-Mannose

The control of metal-sugar complexes speciation in solution is crucial in an energy transition context. Herein, the formation of tungstate-mannose complexes is unraveled in aqueous solution using a multitechnique experimental and theoretical approach. ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as ¹³C-¹H and ¹H-¹H correlation spectra, analyzed in the light of coordination-induced shift method and conformation analysis, were employed to characterize the structure of the sugar involved in the complexes. X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy was performed to provide relevant information about the metal electronic and coordination environment. The calculation of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts for a series of tungstate-mannose complexes using density functional theory (DFT) is a key to identify the appropriate structure among several candidates. Furthermore, a parametric study based on several relevant parameters, namely, pH and tungstate concentration, was carried out to look over the change of the nature and concentrations of the complexes. Two series of complexes were detected, in which the metallic core is either in a ditungstate or a monotungstate form. With respect to previous proposals, we identify two new species. Dinuclear complexes involve both α- and β-furanose forms chelating the metallic center in a tetradentate fashion. A hydrate form chelating a ditungstate core is also revealed. One monotungstate complex appears at high pH, in which a tetrahedral tungstate center is bound to α-mannofuranose through a monodentate site at the second deprotonated hydroxyl group. This unequalled level of knowledge opens the door to structure-reactivity relationships.

Synthesis of easily renewable and recoverable magnetic PEI-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles and its application for adsorption and enrichment of tungsten from aqueous solutions

Tungsten is a hazardous metal to human health and the environment, but it is also valuable. Previous studies have been limited to the adsorption and removal of tungsten, without considering its recovery and utilization. In this article, a renewable magnetic material, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated by polyethyleneimine (Fe₃O₄@PEI NPs), is synthesized and used for the adsorption of tungsten in water. Tungsten adsorption experiments were conducted under different initial tungsten concentrations, contact times, solution pH values, and co-existing anions. The results show that Fe₃O₄@PEI NPs efficiently and rapidly adsorb tungsten from water, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 43.24 mg/g. Under acidic conditions (pH ∼2), the adsorption performance of the NPs maximized. This is because tungstate ions polymerize under such conditions to form polytungstic anions. These are attracted to the positively charged surface of Fe₃O₄@PEI NPs by electrostatic attraction, followed by complexation reactions with the surface hydroxyl and amino groups of NPs, as evidenced by multiple spectroscopic methods. The NPs can be recovered and renewed and provide a potential application for the enrichment and recycling of high-value tungsten (W(VI)).

Efficient and Fast Removal of Aqueous Tungstate by an Iron-Based LDH Delaminated in L-Asparagine

High concentrations of tungstate in aqueous systems pose a severe threat to the environment and human health. This study explored the potential of iron-based LDHs to remove tungstate from water. To improve its tungstate uptake capacity, environment-friendly L-asparagine was used to delaminate iron-based LDH synthesized via a coprecipitation method. The successful delamination was proved by AFM, revealing that the thickness of the obtained nanoparticles was approximately 1–2 times that of a single LDH layer. XRD, TEM, and XPS analyses confirmed that the delaminated LDHs were amorphous and ultrathin and had surface defects within their nanosheets that acted as active sites, leading to a very fast tungstate sorption rate and superior tungstate uptake capacity. Notably, the original layered structure of the L-asparagine-treated LDH was recovered upon its reaction with tungstate-bearing solutions, and therefore, the high availability of aqueous tungstate to the interlayer regions during the structural restoration of the delaminated iron-based LDH contributed to its excellent capability of tungstate removal as well. In addition, the tungstate uptake by the delaminated iron-based LDH was not affected substantially by the presence of coexisting anions, implying that the strong inner-sphere complexation between the tungstate and LDH layers with defects (i.e., Fe-O bonds) was the primary mechanism responsible for the tungstate removal. The delamination process described in this paper was validated to be an effective way to enhance the immobilization of tungstate by iron-based LDHs without inducing secondary pollutions, and delaminated iron-based LDHs are promising to be used extensively in the practice of treating tungstate-rich waters.

Adsorption of octahedral mono-molybdate and poly-molybdate onto hematite: A multi-technique approach

Molybdenum (Mo) is a key trace element and a contaminant in many environments including mine tailings and acid mine drainage systems. Under oxic conditions Mo exists in a number of forms, including mono-molybdate (Mo(VI)O₄^2-) and various poly-molybdate species (e.g. Mo(VI)₇O₂₄^6-) depending on the geochemical conditions (e.g. pH). The mobility and bioavailability of Mo is often controlled by sorption to mineral surfaces, including iron (oxyhydr)oxides e.g. hematite (Fe₂O₃). This study uses adsorption isotherms, PHREEQC geochemical modeling, Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) to holistically characterise the molecular scale adsorption of molybdate to hematite as a function of pH (3-12) and Mo(VI) concentration (0.01 × 10^-4 - 2 × 10^-3 M). PHREEQC and ATR-FTIR indicated both pH and Mo concentration are important variables when forming mono- vs. poly- molybdate and suggest low pH (≤ 4) and high Mo(VI) concentration (≥ 5 × 10^-4 M) contribute to the formation of a poly-molybdate surface species on the hematite surface. XAS found Mo adsorbed to hematite via an inner-sphere corner-sharing bidentate binuclear complex with an octahedral mono-molybdate structure at a Mo concentration of 0.6 × 10^-4 M across the pH range, and at a Mo(VI) concentration of 5 × 10^-4 M and pH over 5. This is the first direct observation of octahedrally coordinated Mo(VI) adsorption species on hematite, and this information has broad implications for the mobility and transport of Mo as a contaminant in the environment.

Tungsten distribution and vertical migration in soils near a typical abandoned tungsten smelter

As an emerging contaminant, tungsten's distribution and speciation in soils are far from understood. In this study, two soil profiles near a typical abandoned tungsten smelter in Hunan Province, China were collected and investigated, to ascertain the binding and association of tungsten with different soil components and subsequently to understand its mobility. The data showed that past tungsten smelting activities resulted in elevated concentrations of both tungsten and arsenic in the soil profiles, both of which ranged from dozens of to a few hundred mg/kg. Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was employed to quantify the distribution and association of tungsten with various other elements. Combined with sequential extraction and mineralogical analysis, the data from NanoSIMS showed that aluminosilicates including kaolinite and illite were the most important mineral hosts for tungsten, whereas arsenic was predominantly bound to iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Additional data from ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that soil organic matter retained tungsten in deep soils (>70 cm) by binding tungsten through carboxyls on aromatic rings. Compared to arsenic, tungsten migrated deeper in the soil profiles, suggesting its higher mobility and potential risk to groundwater quality.

Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) affects W(VI) adsorption onto Al (hydr)oxide: Mechanisms and influencing factors

Tungsten (W) is a contaminant with health implications whose environmental behaviors are not understood well. Sorption to mineral surfaces is one of the primary processes controlling the mobility and fate of W in soils, sediments, and aquifers. However, few papers published hitherto have not yet figured out the influences of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on this process. Here, we examine W(VI) adsorption behaviors onto Al (hydr)oxide (AAH) in the presence or absence of DOM derived from plant rhizosphere, using batch experiments coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology and functional group analyses results show that DOM can facilitate the aggregation of AAH and block surface Al-OH groups. Coexisting DOM inhibits W(VI) adsorption onto AAH at acidic to neutral pH (4-7), and the presence of either Na ⁺ or PO₄^3- can exert a completely different impact on W(VI) adsorption. XPS and FTIR characterizations further demonstrate surface W complexes with the Al-OH groups of AAH and carboxyl groups of DOM. There is no reduction of W(VI) during the adsorption processes, and poly-tungstate species are formed on the surface of both AAH and AAH-DOM coprecipitates. This study provides the first evidence of the roles of natural DOM on W sequestration at the mineral-water surface, which has an important implication for the prediction of the migration and bioavailability of W in natural environments.

The Dynamics of Tungsten in Soil: An Overview

The increasing use of tungsten in the production of green energy in the aerospace and military industries, and in many other hi-tech applications, may increase the content of this element in soil. This overview examines some aspects of the behavior of tungsten in soil, such as the importance of characteristics of soils in relation to bioavailability processes, the chemical approaches to evaluate tungsten mobility in the soil environment and the importance of adsorption and desorption processes. Tungsten behavior depends on soil properties of which the most important is soil pH, which determines the solubility and polymerization of tungstate ions and the characteristics of the adsorbing soil surfaces. During the adsorption and desorption of tungsten, iron, and aluminum oxides, and hydroxides play a key role as they are the most important adsorbing surfaces for tungsten. The behavior of tungsten compounds in the soil determines the transfer of this element in plants and therefore in the food chain. Despite the growing importance of tungsten in everyday life, environmental regulations concerning soil do not take this element into consideration. The purpose of this review is also to provide some basic information that could be useful when considering tungsten in environmental legislation.

Study of accumulation behaviour of tungsten based composite using electron probe micro analyser for the application in bone tissue engineering

In this research, a proto-type study we have conducted, where we have synthesized tungsten based composite materials which are tungsten along with combined oxides of other elements like calcium, scandium, barium, and aluminium in the form of powder with bones powder of mice devised by high energy ball mill and later on fabricating high dense pellets by sintering by spark plasma. The particle sizes of the composite materials are found to be 1-2 µm, as evidenced by the electron microscope, suggesting synthesized materials are of micron size. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of sintered pellets are well confirmed by electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) which illustrate the greater percentage of tungsten presents in the profound scan areas with other elements of the composite. The absence of pores across the 3D geometry suggesting dense sample, which is quite revealed by the X-ray tomography inspection. The prepared sintered pellets from the tungsten based composites are found to be ≈ 99.5% density with the observation of tungsten to be accumulated uniformly across the scan regions along with focussed hot spots as implied by EPMA. This study paves the way, to examine how the tungsten accumulation and the distribution with the other elements for future understanding in bone tissue engineering application and the in vivo specification of tungsten.

Adsorption, Desorption and Bioavailability of Tungstate in Mediterranean Soils

The adsorption and desorption process of the tungstate ion was studied in three soils characteristic of the Mediterranean area, with particularly reference to bioavailability pathways. In the three soils examined, the tungstate adsorption was described by a Langmuir-type equation, while the desorption process showed that not all the adsorbed tungstate was released, probably due to the formation of different bonds with the adsorbing soil surfaces. The pH was found to be the main soil property that regulates the adsorption/desorption: The maximum adsorption occurred in the soil with the acidic pH, and the maximum desorption in the most basic soil. In addition, the organic matter content played a fundamental role in the adsorption of tungstate by soils, being positively correlated with the maximum of adsorption. These results indicate that the lowest bioavailability should be expected in the acidic soil characterized by the highest adsorption capacity. This is confirmed by the trend of the maximum buffer capacity (MBC) of soils which is inversely related to bioavailability, and was the highest in the acidic soil and the lowest in the most basic soil. Our data could contribute in drafting environmental regulations for tungsten that are currently lacking for Mediterranean soils.

Response of tungsten (W) solubility and chemical fractionation to changes in soil pH and soil aging

A thorough understanding of the geochemical behavior of W in soils is crucial for environmental risk assessment. Soil pH is known as master variable of element solubility and bioavailability in soils. Here we report on effects of soil pH (modified by liming and acid - base additions) and soil aging on the environmental availability of W in soil using W solubility and chemical fractionation as indicators. Experimental soils included two naturally acidic soils with contrasting soil texture (SAND, CLAY), at native pH or limed with 2.5% CaCO₃, and spiked with increasing concentration of W. Our results showed that W was significantly more labile in alkaline compared to acidic soils, confirming the validity of results of pure-mineral studies for more heterogeneously composed soils. While labile W was generally greater in the SAND compared to the CLAY soil, the reverse trend was observed in the limed soils at the highest W addition (5000 mg kg^-1). Combining our results with previous mechanistic reports suggests that clay edge sorption sites significantly contributed to W retention in treatments with low to medium W additions, resulting in lower environmental availability for W in the CLAY soil. At high W concentrations and high pH, the stronger W retention in the SAND was attributed to continuous formation of W surface polymers on the more abundant metal (oxyhydr)oxides, a process that has been previously reported to occur even under alkaline conditions. A first comparison of various soil chemical methods (Bray & AB-DTPA extractions, soil solution centrifugation C_L, diffusion-based DGT) to predict W phytoavailability in soil also revealed a strong pH dependency challenging the identification of a suitable method. This study is one of the first demonstrating the pH dependence of W in natural soils and delivers evidence for increased risk of W mobilization in W polluted, alkaline soil environments.

3,5-Dihydroxy Benzoic Acid-Capped CaF2:Tb3+ Nanocrystals as Luminescent Probes for the WO4 2- Ion in Aqueous Solution

We report a facile and effective luminescence method for the determination of the WO4 2- ion in aqueous medium at initial pH = 6.3. This is achieved using 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid-capped CaF2:Tb3+ (5%) nanocrystals (NCs) as a luminescent probe. This is accomplished based on the energy transfer luminescence from the WO4 2- ion to the Tb3+ ion in small-size CaF2:Tb3+ NCs. Hydroxyl groups on the surface ligand helps in binding the tungstate ion to the surface of the NCs. With the gradual addition of the WO4 2- ion, the intensity of the Tb3+ excitation and emission spectra significantly increased. The linear range of the detection was from 1 to 10 μM for the WO4 2- ion (R 2 = 0.99). The calculated detection limit was 0.4 μM (by applying the 3σ/K criterion).

Scheelite weathering and tungsten (W) mobility in historical oxidic-sulfidic skarn tailings at Yxsjöberg, Sweden

More knowledge of the geochemical behavior of tungsten (W) and associated contamination risks is needed. Therefore, weathering of scheelite (CaWO₄) and secondary sequestration and transport of W to groundwater in historical skarn tailings and surface water downstream of the tailings were studied. The tailings contained 920 mg/kg W, primarily in scheelite. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses were combined to elucidate the geochemical behavior of W in the tailings, and water samples were taken monthly during 2018 to monitor its mobility. In the tailings, a large peak of W was found at 1.5 m depth. There, 30 wt%. of W was present in easily reducible phases, indicating former scheelite weathering. Currently, W is being released from scheelite to water-soluble phases at 2.5 m depth. The release of WO₄^2- is hypothetically attributed to anion exchange with CO₃^2- released from calcite neutralizing acid produced from pyrrhotite oxidation in the upper tailings and transported downwards to pH conditions > 7. Higher concentrations of dissolved W were found in the groundwater and particulate W in downstream surface water than in reference water, but they were lower than current contamination thresholds. Tungsten showed correlations with hydrous ferric oxides (HFO) in both the tailings and surface water.

Comparison of two sequential extraction procedures for tungsten fractionation in the tungsten mining soils

Two sequential extraction procedures including Tessier and Wenzel schemes have been evaluated for the study of tungsten fractionation in soil samples adjacent to the World's largest and longest-operating tungsten mines in China. The efficiency and suitability of two methods and the corresponding extraction steps for partitioning tungsten were compared. Results showed the Tessier scheme classical for cation metals was inappropriate for tungsten fractionation. Although the percentage of readily bioavailable tungsten fractions extracted by the Tessier method is comparable to the Wenzel method, the Tessier scheme still has some drawbacks for partitioning tungsten mainly arising from the lack of selectivity of some of the reagents used. The Wenzel scheme has higher extraction recovery and efficiency than the Tessier method, especially for extracting amorphous and crystalline oxyhydroxides which were mainly responsible for tungsten retention. As a final conclusion, the study indicated that the Wenzel scheme should be more suitable for tungsten fractionation, but we need to make further improvement on the Wenzel scheme by supplementing the extraction stage for the oxidisable fraction to find a reliable and easy to use method to characterize tungsten forms in all soil samples to provide valuable information for risk assessment.

Efficient bioaccumulation of tungsten by Escherichia coli cells expressing the Sulfitobacter dubius TupBCA system

Tungsten (W) is a valuable element with considerable industrial and economic importance that belongs to the European Union list of critical metals with a high supply risk. Therefore, the development of effective and new methods for W recovery is essential to ensure a sustainable supply. In the present study, the Sulfitobacter dubius W transport system TupABC was explored in order to demonstrate both its functionality in Escherichia coli cells and to construct a bioaccumulator (EcotupW). The complete gene cluster tupBCA or partial gene cluster tupBC were cloned in an expression vector and transformed into E. coli. Metal accumulation was evaluated when each construct strain was grown with three separate metal oxyanions (tungstate, molybdate or chromate). The specificity of the bioaccumulator was determined by competition assays using cells grown with mixed solutions of metal oxyanions (W/Mo and W/Cr). The results showed the relevance of the TupA protein in the TupABC transporter system to W-uptake and also allowed Mo and Cr accumulations, although with amounts 1.7 and 2.9-fold lower than W, respectively. To identify the importance of the valine residue in the accumulation efficiency of the VTTS motif, site-directed mutagenesis of tupA was performed. A mutant with a threonine residue, instead of the respective valine, confirmed that W was internalized by nearly double the amount compared to the native form. The findings indicated that cells carrying the native S. dubius TupABC system were great W-bioaccumulators and could be promising tools for W recovery.

Sorption of Molybdates and Tungstates on Functionalized Montmorillonites: Structural and Textural Features

Montmorillonite—the most popular mineral of the smectite group—has been recognized as a low-cost, easily available mineral sorbent of heavy metals and other organic and inorganic compounds that pollute water. The aim of this work was to determine the sorption mechanism and to identify the reaction products formed on the surface of montmorillonite and organo-montmorillonite after sorption of molybdates (Mo(VI)) and tungstates (W(VI)). Montmorillonites are often modified to generate a negative charge on the surface. The main objective of the study was to investigate and compare the features of Na-montmorillonite (Na-M), montmorillonite modified with dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DDTMA-M), and montmorillonite modified with didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDDDMA-M) before and after sorption experiments. The material obtained after sorption was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD pattern showed the presence of a new crystallic phase in the sample that was observed under an SEM as an accumulation of crystals. The FTIR spectra showed bands related to Mo–O and W–O vibration (840 and 940 cm⁻¹, respectively). The obtained results suggest that molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) ions sorb onto the organo-montmorillonite in the form of alkylammonium molybdates and tungstates.

Tungstate removal from aqueous solution by nanocrystalline iowaite: An iron-bearing layered double hydroxide

Tungstate enrichment in aquatic systems may cause negative environmental and health effects. This study addresses tungstate removal from aqueous solution by nanocrystalline iowaite, an iron-bearing layered double hydroxide, which has not been used for treatment of tungstate-rich waters so far. Tungstate sorption experiments were conducted with various contact times, temperatures, initial tungstate concentrations (0.001-2 mM), and solution pH values (2-13), the results indicating that iowaite sorbed aqueous tungstate effectively and quickly, and the sorption maximum can be up to 71.9 mg/g. Moreover, the tungsten sorption capacity keeps nearly constant at a wide pH range from 3 to 11. Duo to its pH buffering effect, the alkaline conditions were generated by the addition of iowaite, which are favorable for the removal of aqueous tungstate because the polymerization of tungstate can be prohibited at alkaline pH values. Zeta potential, XRD and XPS analyses were employed to clarify the sorption mechanisms, and it was concluded that tungstate was sorbed via its exchange with the chloride originally intercalated into iowaite interlayers as well as its stronger inner-sphere complexation with the Fe atoms located in iowaite layers. Nanocrystalline iowaite is suitable for treating both tungstate-bearing natural waters with moderately high tungstate concentrations and industrial wastewaters extremely rich in tungstate.

Tungsten from typical magmatic hydrothermal systems in China and its environmental transport

Tungsten is of extraordinarily high concentrations in the geothermal waters discharging from several representative Tibetan magmatic hydrothermal systems (up to 1103 μg/L), which are also characterized by exceptionally high W/Mo molar ratios (up to 1182). The geochemical origins of the tungsten in these geothermal waters were investigated, with a comparison to those from Rehai, the sole magmatic hydrothermal system in Yunnan, which is another major part of the Yunnan-Sichuan-Tibet Geothermal Province of China. The results show that the lithology of reservoir host rocks is the primary factor controlling the tungsten concentrations of the geothermal waters, although the contribution of magmatic fluid input cannot be ruled out. In this study, the geothermal waters are generally rich in sulfide, and therefore the molybdenum in the reservoir fluids has been substantially precipitated as the form of molybdenite; in contrast, the reservoir fluids are well undersaturated with respect to tungstenite which is much more soluble than molybdenite. Thus the neutral/alkaline hot springs, i.e. the evolved reservoir fluids, have high W/Mo molar ratios as well. In the hot spring sediments, the distribution pattern of tungsten is quite different. The concentrations of tungsten are the highest in the sediments with high iron concentrations collected from the acid hot spring vents and outflow channels. The adsorption of aqueous tungsten onto iron-bearing minerals, like goethite or pyrite, is favorable at acid pH values and thereby responsible for the very high tungsten concentrations of these acid hot spring sediments. The proportions of thiotungstates in total tungsten are quite low for all the hot springs, as indicated by thermodynamic calculations, suggesting that thiolation of tungstate has little impacts on the environmental transport and fate of geothermal tungsten in the investigated hydrothermal areas. This is the first study to report the tungsten geochemistry of hot springs in mainland China.

Removal of Hazardous Oxyanions from the Environment Using Metal-Oxide-Based Materials

Scientific development has increased the awareness of water pollutant forms and has reawakened the need for its effective purification. Oxyanions are created by a variety of redox-sensitive metals and metalloids. These species are harmful to living matter due to their toxicity, nondegradibility, and mobility in aquatic environments. Among a variety of water treatment techniques, adsorption is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective. Since metal-oxide-based adsorbents poses a variety of functional groups onto their surface, they were widely applied in ions sorption. In this paper adsorption of harmful oxyanions by metal oxide-based materials according to literature survey was studied. Characteristic of oxyanions originating from As, V, B, W and Mo, their probable adsorption mechanisms and comparison of their sorption affinity for metal-oxide-based materials such as iron oxides, aluminum oxides, titanium dioxide, manganium dioxide, and various oxide minerals and their combinations are presented in this paper.

Influence of phosphate on tungstate sorption on hematite: A macroscopic and spectroscopic evaluation of the mechanism

The environmental fate of the tungstate (VI) oxyanion [ e.g. mono tungstate and several polytungstate, generally expressed by W (VI)] is largely controlled by sorption on soil minerals, especially on iron oxide minerals. Molecular scale evaluation of W (VI) retention on iron oxides in the presence of competing oxyanions is scarce in literature. Here we report surface interaction mechanisms of W (VI) on hematite in the presence of phosphate (P) using macroscopic and in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic experiments. Batch sorption experiments were conducted using 2 g L^-1 hematite and 100 μM W (VI) and P, in single ion system and in binary mixtures as a function of pH (4-11). In situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopic evaluation of P and W (VI) sorption on hematite was also carried out. The results from macroscopic experiments indicated that W (VI) sorption on hematite was not affected by P when W (VI) was added first. The influence of P on W (VI) sorption was noticed when W (VI) & P were added simultaneously or P was added first. The in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopic data corroborated these findings. In addition, the spectroscopic data revealed that in the presence of P, the surface complexation mode of W (VI) differed as noted from either the absence of WO antisymmetric infrared (IR) band or the WOW stretching band. This study provides useful information on molecular level understanding of W (VI) surface complexation on hematite in the presence of competing ions such as P.

pH-Dependent Bioavailability, Speciation, and Phytotoxicity of Tungsten (W) in Soil Affect Growth and Molybdoenzyme Activity of Nodulated Soybeans

Increasing use of tungsten (W)-based products opened new pathways for W into environmental systems. Due to its chemical alikeness with molybdenum (Mo), W is expected to behave similarly to its "twin element", Mo; however, our knowledge of the behavior of W in the plant-soil environment remains inadequate. The aim of this study was to investigate plant growth as well as W and nutrient uptake depending on soil chemical properties such as soil pH and texture. Soybean ( Glycine max cv. Primus) was grown on two acidic soils differing in soil texture that were either kept at their natural soil pH (pH of 4.5-5) or limed (pH of ≥7) and amended with increasing concentrations of metallic W (control and 500 and 5000 mg kg-1). In addition, the activity of molybdoenzymes involved in N assimilation (nitrate reductase) and symbiotic N2 fixation (nitrogenase) was also investigated. Our results showed that the risk of W entering the food web was significantly greater in high-pH soils due to increased solubility of mainly monomeric W. The effect of soil texture on W solubility and phytoavailability was less pronounced compared to soil pH. Particularly at intermediate W additions (W 500 mg kg-1), symbiotic nitrogen fixation was able to compensate for reduced leaf nitrate reductase activity. When W soil solution concentrations became too toxic (W 5000 mg kg-1), nodulation was more strongly inhibited than nitrogenase activity in the few nodules formed, suggesting a more-efficient detoxification and compartmentalization mechanism in nodules than in soybean leaves. The increasing presence of polymeric W species observed in low-pH soils spiked with high W concentrations resulted in decreased W uptake. Simultaneously, polymeric W species had an overall negative effect on nutrient assimilation and plant growth, suggesting a greater phytotoxicity of W polymers. Our study demonstrates the importance of accounting for soil pH in risk assessment studies of W in the plant-soil environment, something that has been completely neglected in the past.

Formation of CoAl layered double hydroxide on the boehmite surface and its role in tungstate sorption

Sorption of tungstate on boehmite (γ-AlOOH) is increased by co-sorption with Co²⁺ over the near-neutral pH range. Batch uptake experiments show up to a 3-fold increase in tungstate uptake over the range WO₄^2-=50-1000μmol/L compared to boehmite not treated with Co²⁺. Desorption experiments reveal a corresponding decrease in sorption reversibility for tungstate co-sorbed with Co²⁺. Reaction of boehmite with Co²⁺ results in the formation of CoAl layered double hydroxide (LDH), as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Tungsten L₃-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) reveals that W(VI) is octahedrally coordinated in all sorption samples, with polymeric tungstate species forming at higher tungstate concentrations. X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicate that the mechanism for enhancement of tungstate uptake is the formation of surface complexes on boehmite at low tungstate concentrations, while exchange into the CoAl LDH becomes important at higher tungstate concentrations. The results provide a basis for developing strategies to enhance tungstate sorption and to limit its environmental mobility at near-neutral pH conditions.

Tungsten Speciation and Solubility in Munitions-Impacted Soils

Considerable questions persist regarding tungsten geochemistry in natural systems, including which forms of tungsten are found in soils and how adsorption regulates dissolved tungsten concentrations. In this study, we examine tungsten speciation and solubility in a series of soils at firing ranges in which tungsten rounds were used. The metallic, mineral, and adsorbed forms of tungsten were characterized using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray microprobe, and desorption isotherms for tungsten in these soils were used to characterize its solid-solution partitioning behavior. Data revealed the complete and rapid oxidation of tungsten metal to hexavalent tungsten(VI) and the prevalence of adsorbed polymeric tungstates in the soils rather than discrete mineral phases. These polymeric complexes were only weakly retained in the soils, and porewaters in equilibrium with contaminated soils had 850 mg L^-1 tungsten, considerably in excess of predicted solubility. We attribute the high solubility and limited adsorption of tungsten to the formation of polyoxometalates such as W₁₂SiO₄₀^4-, an α-Keggin cluster, in soil solutions. Although more research is needed to confirm which of such polyoxometalates are present in soils, their formation may not only increase the solubility of tungsten but also facilitate its transport and influence its toxicity.

Tungstate adsorption onto Italian soils with different characteristics

The study of tungsten in the environment is currently of considerable interest because of the growing concerns resulting from its possible toxicity and carcinogenicity. Adsorption reactions are some of the fundamental processes governing the fate and transport of tungsten compounds in soil. This paper reports data on the adsorption of tungstate ions in three different Italian soils, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean region. The results show that pH is the most important factor governing the adsorption of tungstate in these soils. The data interpreted according to the Langmuir equation show that the maximum value of adsorption is approximately 30 mmol kg^-1 for the most acidic soil (pH = 4.50) and approximately 9 mmol kg^-1 for the most basic soil (pH = 7.40). In addition, soil organic matter is shown to play a fundamental role in adsorption processes, which are favored in soils with a higher organic matter content. The data could contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of tungsten compounds in Italian soils for which current knowledge is very scarce, also in view of environmental regulations, which are currently lacking.

Tungstate (VI) sorption on hematite: An in situ ATR-FTIR probe on the mechanism

Owing to the suspected toxicity and carcinogenicity of tungstate (VI) oxyanions [i.e. mono tungstate and several polytungstate, generally represented by W (VI)], the environmental fate of W (VI) has been widely studied. Sorption is regarded as a major mechanism by which W (VI) species are retained in the solid/water interface. Iron (hydr)oxides have been considered important environmental sinks for W (VI) species. Here we report sorption mechanisms of W (VI) on a common iron oxide mineral-hematite under environmentally relevant solution properties using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic probes. Initial W (VI) loadings varied from 10 to 200 μM at fixed pH values ranged from 4.6 to 8.1. For pH envelop (pHs = 4.6, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.1) experiments, fixed W (VI) concentrations (i.e. 10 & 200 μM) were used to understand the effects of pH. The results indicated that at acidic pH values (pH < 6.0) the sorbed polytungstate surface species are prominent at 200 μM initial W (VI) conc. The pH envelop experiments revealed that sorbed polytungstates can be present even at lower initial W (VI) conc. (i.e. 10 μM) at pH values <5.5. Overall, our in situ ATR-FTIR experiments indicated that W (VI) forms inner-sphere type bonds on hematite surface and the strength of the interaction increases with decreasing pH. In addition, initial W (VI) concentration affected the sorption mechanisms of W (VI) on hematite. Our study will aid the molecular level understanding of W (VI) retention on iron oxide surfaces.