Kinetics of the Formation and Dissolution of Ni Precipitates in a Gibbsite/Amorphous Silica Mixture

Abstract

There have been a number of studies that have examined metal precipitation reactions on an array of natural soil materials. While many of these investigations have focused on model single-component systems, recent research has appeared on metal precipitation on soils and clay fractions of soils. However, few studies have explored mixed model component systems, which may lead to a better understanding of metal reactions on soils and clay fractions. Furthermore, only a few studies have appeared on the stability of the metal surface precipitates. In light of this, we investigated Ni sorption and dissolution kinetics and mechanisms on a mixture of gibbsite and amorphous silica by combining macroscopic studies with X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies (DRS), and high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HRTGA). Batch sorption experiments were conducted at pH 7.5 and at different reaction times to elucidate the sorption process and to study the role of residence time on metal precipitate stability. Spectroscopic and HRTGA investigations revealed α-Ni(OH)2 precipitates formed on the gibbsite/silica mixture initially and over time evolved to a Ni phyllosilicate. The available Si source was derived from partial dissolution of the sorbent during Ni sorption. With increasing residence time, the precipitate phases drastically increased in stability, as shown by decreasing amounts of Ni release as effected by nitric acid (HNO3) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatments. This aging effect may be explained by the silicate-for-nitrate exchange during the first days of reaction and subsequently by silicate polymerization and partial grafting onto the hydroxide layers to form a phyllosilicate precursor phase (R. G. Ford, A. C. Scheinost, K. G. Scheckel, and D. L. Sparks, Environ. Sci. Technol.33(18), 3140–3144, 1999).