Abstract
The interaction between magnetite and aqueous Fe(II) profoundly impacts the mineral recrystallization, trace-metal sequestration, and contaminant reduction. The iron ions in natural magnetite are extensively substituted by other cations. It is still unclear whether the substitution with thermodynamically favorable redox repairs (e.g., Co2+/Co3+) plays a vital role in the reducing capability of the coupled system. Herein, a series of Co-substituted magnetite samples (Fe3−xCoxO4, 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 1.00) were synthesized and tested for the reductive removal of Cr(VI) in the presence of Fe(II). Fe3−xCoxO4 had a spinel structure with the preferential occupancy of Co2+ on octahedral sites. No visible variation in the BET surface area was observed, whereas the surface site density increased gradually with Co substitution. Cr(VI) was found first adsorbed on the Fe3−xCoxO4 surface and then reduced to Cr(III) by the structural Fe2+ and the absorbed Fe(II), accompanied by the oxidation of bulk Fe2+ and surface Fe(II) in Fe3−xCoxO4 without phase transformation. The Cr(III) was precipitated on the Fe3−xCoxO4 surface with Fe(III), or substituted octahedral Fe in Fe3−xCoxO4. Both the reaction kinetics and the electron transfer efficiency revealed that Co substitution significantly improved the reactivity of Fe3−xCoxO4/Fe(II) towards Cr(VI) reduction. This was ascribed to the presence of the redox pairs Co2+/Co3+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ accelerating electron transfer from the Fe3−xCoxO4 interface to Cr(VI).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 400-408 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 656 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- Aqueous Fe(II)
- Co-substituted magnetite
- Cr microstructure
- Heterogeneous reduction of Cr(VI)
- Reaction mechanism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution