Kinetics and mechanisms of the acid dissolution of goethite (α-FeOOH)

Abstract

The initial rate of dissolution of several crystalline forms of goethite (α-FeOOH) has been measured as a function of solution conditions. These include hydrogen ion concentration, anion concentration (chloride or perchlorate) and temperature. For dissolution in HClO 4 the rate of reaction is first order with respect to hydrogen ion concentration and is independent of perchloric ion concentration. The rate determining step is thus a protonation of the surface. The activation energy in the presence of perchlorate ion is 23 kcal/mole and the rate of dissolution can be described by the simple collision theory. For dissolution in HCl the kinetics are more complex, the rate again being first order with respect to hydrogen ion concentration but also a function of chloride ion concentration. The results indicate that an adsorption complex is formed before dissolution occurs.