Recrystallization of Ferric Oxyhydroxides Consisting of FeO<sub>6</sub> Octahedral Units via Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Solid particles of ferric oxyhydroxides or iron oxide were recrystallized from ferrous and ferric ions dissolved in aqueous solution. There are different structures of α-FeOOH, β-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH in the ferric oxyhydroxides, of which the formation is influenced by reaction conditions such as oxidation rate of ferrous ions. In this work, a few factors affecting the formation of the ferric oxyhydroxides and iron oxides, which was converted from hydrosulfate green rust, has been studied using different methods. The hydrosulfate green rust (GR2) was synthesized from solutions of ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3), ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and they were oxidized by gas containing oxygen. X-ray diffraction measurements and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used for analyzing the structure and chemical state of solid particles extracted from the suspension during the oxidation. The morphology of the particles was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that γ-FeOOH or Fe3O4 particles were formed together with α-FeOOH particles during conversion from the green rust, depending on oxidation temperature, oxygen flow rate and addition of manganese. This indicates that the species of ferric oxyhydroxides or iron oxides formed in aqueous solution is sensitively influenced by reaction conditions.