Abstract
United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy (DOE) [DOE-BES DE-FG02-06ER15786]; University of Texas at El Paso
Highlights
Nickel (Ni) is a bio-essential trace metal that is required for several geochemically relevant metabolisms
Analyses of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of precipitates formed in the Fe-free and Fe-poor abiotic and biotic systems (“No Fe” and [Ni]aq/[Fe]aq = 5:1) indicate that the precipitates are largely amorphous (Figure 1)
Through the various techniques employed in our study, we have identified several phases of Ni-sulfides including polyphasic Nisulfide precursors, millerite, α-NiS, polydymite and vaesite
Summary
Nickel (Ni) is a bio-essential trace metal that is required for several geochemically relevant metabolisms. These include the cellular defense mechanism against reactive oxygen species, the production of ammonia from urea, the interconversion of di-hydrogen and protons, and the microbially mediated production of greenhouse gasses such as methane and carbon monoxide (Ragsdale, 2009). Nickel concentrations are low in the modern ocean with a range from 2 to 12 nM, and aqueous Ni shows a nutrient-like distribution with water depth due to depletion in the photic zone as a result of biological uptake (Sclater et al, 1976; Bruland et al, 2013). The removal mechanism of aqueous Ni from natural waters is of great interest both in terms of improving understanding of natural biogeochemical processes and in applying that information to improve water treatment quality
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