Abstract
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a surface sensitive technique, is employed in the elucidation of chemical information regarding the environment of the priority metal pollutants; zinc, cadmium, and mercury, solidified in Portland cement. The metals were added as the aqueous solution of the salts [Zn(NO 3) 2, Cd(NO 3) 2, Hg(NO 3) 2] as 10% 3nd 20% by weight nitrate (hydrated). Standards of undoped Portland cement were prepared with cation-free water. The locations of metal ions, with respect to the bulk and surface of the cement matrix as a function of the interfacial phenomena of the alkaline medium, were probed. Bulk and topographical examinations were carried out using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. Zinc, cadmium, and mercury are thought to exhibit dissimilar chemistries in the highly buffered alkaline medium. Their final solidification products seem to differ in how they are contained in the matrix. Mercury appears to be stabilized through physical interactions in the cement matrix, existing in mercury-rich deposits. The most impacting observation lies in the tremendous increase in surface carbonate formation in all the metal-ion doped cements.
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