Corner-sharing FeO6 Octahedra Research Articles

Synergism of Fe and Al salts for the coagulation of dissolved organic matter: Structural developments of Fe/Al-organic matter associations

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is distributed ubiquitously in water bodies. Ferric ions can flocculate DOM to form stable coprecipitates; however, Al(III) may alter the structures and stability of Fe-DOM coprecipitates. This study aimed to examine the coprecipitation of Fe, Al, and DOM as well as structural developments of Fe-DOM coprecipitates in relation to changes in Fe/Al ratios and pHs. The results showed that the derived Fe/Al/DOM-coprecipitates could be classified into three categories: (1) at pH 3.0 and 4.5, the corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra associated with Fe–C bonds with Fe/(Fe + Al) ratios ≥0.5; (2) the Fe–C bonds along with single Fe octahedra having Fe/(Fe + Al) ratios of 0.25; (3) at pH 6.0, the ferrihydrite-like Fe domains associated with Fe–C bonds with Fe/(Fe + Al) ratios ≥0.5. At pH 3.0, the Fe and C stability of the coprecipitates increased with increasing Al proportions; nonetheless, pure Al-DOM coprecipitates were unstable even if they exhibited the maximum ability for DOM removal. The associations of Al-DOM complexes and/or DOM-adsorbed Al domains with external surfaces of Fe domain or Fe-DOM coprecipitates may stabilize DOM, leading to lower C solubilization at pH 4.5. Although the preferential formation of Fe/Al hydroxides decreased Fe/Al solubilization at pH 6.0, adsorption instead of coprecipitation of DOM with Fe/Al hydroxides may decrease C stabilization in the coprecipitates. Aluminum cations inhibit DOM releases from Fe/Al/DOM-coprecipitates, promoting the treatment and reuse efficiencies of wastewater and resolving water shortages. This study demonstrates that Al and solution pH greatly affect the structural changes of Fe-DOM coprecipitates and indirectly control the dynamics of Fe, Al, and C concentrations in water.

Unique octahedral rotation pattern in the oxygen-deficient Ruddlesden-Popper compound Gd3Ba2Fe4O12.

A novel Ruddlesden-Popper-related compound, Gd3Ba2Fe4O12, was discovered and its crystal structure was determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure has an ordered structure of octahedra and pyramids along the c axis. Gd3Ba2Fe4O12 belongs to the tetragonal system P42/ncm, with a = 5.59040 (10) Å and c = 35.1899 (10) Å. The A-site ions in the Ruddlesden-Popper structure, i.e. Gd3+ and Ba2+, exhibit an ordering along the c axis. The perfect oxygen deficiency is accommodated at the GdO layers in the proper Ruddlesden-Popper structure. Using the bond-valence-sum method, the Fe ions in the FeO6 octahedra and FeO5 pyramids represent valence states of +3 and +2.5, respectively, demonstrating a two-dimensional charge disproportionation. The corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra and FeO5 pyramids are tilted in opposite directions, with the neighbours around one axis of the simple perovskite configuration, which, using Glazer's notation, can be represented as a-b0c0/b0a-c0. In the perovskite blocks, the facing FeO5 pyramids across the Gd layer rotate in the same sense, which is a unique rotation feature related to oxygen deficiency.

Black carbon enriches short-range-order ferrihydrite in Amazonian Dark Earth: Interplay mechanism and environmental implications

Our study underpins the mechanism of organo-mineral interaction between black carbon (BC, biochar) and associated minerals in the historical BC-rich Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE) by using synchrotron-based microscopic (TXM), microspectroscopic (μFTIR) and spectroscopic (XAS and μ-diffraction) approaches. The BC-rich ADE contained over 100% more poorly crystalline minerals than the adjacent tropical soil. Linear combination fitting of k-spacing in the X-ray Absorption Spectra (XAS) revealed that ferrihydrite contributed to 81.1% of the Fe-minerals in BC. A small but distinct peak was observed at 5.7 Å−1 in the extended X-ray absorption fine structure k oscillation of BC, revealing the presence of FeC (including Fe-O-C) covalent bonds. No FeC path was yielded by the XAS fitting when an obvious peak downshift of the first (FeFe1) shell was observed, suggesting that the availability of inner-sphere FeC complexation was limited to the BC surface and interphase region. The main minerals for organo-mineral complexation were short-range-order (SRO) ferrihydrite on BC instead of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra. Compared to ADE, the coordination number of the first (FeFe1) and second (FeFe2) shell was higher in BC, revealing a higher degree of order in coordination between the neighboring Fe mineral crystals. Black C limited the progressive aging of amorphous Fe phases and greatly enriched SRO ferrihydrite in the redox-fluctuating and high-leaching environment. The transformation of SRO ferrihydrite into the more crystalline Fe oxides was controlled by the local pH environment. A strong signal from the complexed phenolic group (aryl-OH, 1241 cm−1) and a distinct band of inner-sphere complexation (Fe-aryl C, 1380–1384 cm−1) were identified in the FTIR spectra. The enrichment of poorly crystalline minerals can have positive feedback on the long-term stabilization of BC. The scale-up application of biochar to agricultural and ecological systems may have a long-lasting impact on the enrichment and transformation of the SRO minerals in the soil.

Stabilization of Natural Organic Matter by Short-Range-Order Iron Hydroxides.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is capable of modifying the surfaces of soil minerals (e.g., Fe hydroxides) or even forming stable co-precipitates with Fe(III) in a neutral environment. The DOM/Fe co-precipitation may alter biogeochemical carbon cycling in soils if the relatively mobile DOM is sorbed by soil minerals against leaching, runoff, and biodegradation. In this study, we aimed to determine the structural development of DOM/Fe co-precipitates in relation to changes in pH and C/(C + Fe) ratios using XRD, XPS, Fe K-edge XAS, FTIR, and C-NEXAFS techniques. The results showed that in the system with bulk C/(C + Fe) molar ratios ≤0.65, the ferrihydrite-like Fe domains were precipitated as the core and covered by the C shells. When the C/(C + Fe) molar ratio ranged between 0.71 and 0.89, the emerging Fe-C bonding suggested a more substantial association between Fe domains including edge- and corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra and DOM. With C/(C + Fe) bulk molar ratios ≥0.92, only corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra along with Fe-C bonding were found. The homogeneously distributed C and Fe domains caused the enhancement of Fe and C solubilization from co-precipitates. The C/(C + Fe) ratios dominated structural compositions and stabilities of C/Fe co-precipitates and may directly affect the Fe and C cycles in soils.

Total X-ray scattering, EXAFS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy analyses of amorphous ferric arsenate and amorphous ferric phosphate

Amorphous ferric arsenate (AFA, FeAsO4·xH2O) is an important As precipitate in a range of oxic As-rich environments, especially acidic sulfide-bearing mine wastes. Its structure has been proposed to consist of small polymers of single corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra (rFe–Fe ∼3.6Å) to which arsenate is attached as a monodentate binuclear 2C complex (‘chain model’). Here, we analyzed the structure of AFA and analogously prepared amorphous ferric phosphates (AFP, FePO4·xH2O) by a combination of high-energy total X-ray scattering, Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of total X-ray scattering data revealed that the coherently scattering domain size of AFA and AFP is about 8Å. The PDFs of AFA lacked Fe–Fe pair correlations at r ∼3.6Å indicative of single corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra, which strongly supports a local scorodite (FeAsO4·2H2O) structure. Likewise, the PDFs and Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure data of AFP were consistent with a local strengite (FePO4·2H2O) structure of isolated FeO6 octahedra being corner-linked to PO4 tetrahedra (rFe–P=3.25(1)Å). Mössbauer spectroscopy analyses of AFA and AFP indicated a strong superparamagnetism. While AFA only showed a weak onset of magnetic hyperfine splitting at 5K, magnetic ordering of AFP was completely absent at this temperature. Mössbauer spectroscopy may thus offer a convenient way to identify and quantify AFA and AFP in mineral mixtures containing poorly crystalline Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides. In summary, our results imply a close structural relationship between AFA and AFP and suggest that these amorphous materials serve as templates for the formation of scorodite and strengite (phosphosiderite) in strongly acidic low-temperature environments.

Crystal structure, physical properties, and electronic and magnetic structure of the spin S = 5/2 zigzag chain compound Bi2Fe(SeO3)2OCl3.

We report the synthesis and characterization of the new bismuth iron selenite oxochloride Bi2Fe(SeO3)2OCl3. The main feature of its crystal structure is the presence of a reasonably isolated set of spin S = 5/2 zigzag chains of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra decorated with BiO4Cl3, BiO3Cl3, and SeO3 groups. When the temperature is lowered, the magnetization passes through a broad maximum at Tmax ≈ 130 K, which indicates the formation of a magnetic short-range correlation regime. The same behavior is demonstrated by the integral electron spin resonance intensity. The absorption is characterized by the isotropic effective factor g ≈ 2 typical for high-spin Fe(3+) ions. The broadening of ESR absorption lines at low temperatures with the critical exponent β = 7/4 is consistent with the divergence of the temperature-dependent correlation length expected for the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin chain upon approaching the long-range ordering transition from above. At TN = 13 K, Bi2Fe(SeO3)2OCl3 exhibits a transition into an antiferromagnetically ordered state, evidenced in the magnetization, specific heat, and Mössbauer spectra. At T < TN, the (57)Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal a low saturated value of the hyperfine field Hhf ≈ 44 T, which indicates a quantum spin reduction of spin-only magnetic moment ΔS/S ≈ 20%. The determination of exchange interaction parameters using first-principles calculations validates the quasi-one-dimensional nature of magnetism in this compound.

Arsenic Species Formed from Arsenopyrite Weathering along a Contamination Gradient in Circumneutral River Floodplain Soils

Arsenic is a toxic trace element, which commonly occurs as contaminant in riverine floodplains and associated wetlands affected by mining and ore processing. In this study, we investigated the solid-phase speciation of As in river floodplain soils characterized by circumneutral pH (5.7-7.1) and As concentrations of up to 40.3 g/kg caused by former mining of arsenopyrite-rich ores. Soil samples collected in the floodplain of Ogosta River (Bulgaria) were size-fractionated and subsequently analyzed using a combination of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and selective chemical extraction of poorly crystalline mineral phases. Arsenic and Fe were found to be spatially correlated and both elements were strongly enriched in the fine soil particle size fractions (<2 μm and 2-50 μm). Between 14 and 82% of the total As was citrate-ascorbate extractable. Molar As/Fe ratios were as high as 0.34 in the bulk soil extracts and increased up to 0.48 in extracts of the fine particle size fractions. Arsenic K-edge XAS spectra showed the predominance of As(V) and were well fitted with a reference spectrum of As(V) adsorbed to ferrihydrite. Whereas no As(III) was detected, considerable amounts of As(-I) were present and identified as arsenopyrite originating from the mining waste. Iron K-edge XAS revealed that in addition to As(V) adsorbed to ferrihydrite, X-ray amorphous As(V)-rich hydrous ferric oxides ("As-HFO") with a reduced number of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra relative to ferrihydrite were the dominating secondary As species in the soils. The extremely high concentrations of As in the fine particle size fractions (up to 214 g/kg) and its association with poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxides and As-HFO phases suggest a high As mobilization potential under both oxic and anoxic conditions, as well as a high bioaccessibility of As upon ingestion, dermal contact, or inhalation by humans or animals.

Structure and magnetic properties of a new anion-deficient perovskite Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 with crystallographic shear structure

Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13, a new n=5 member of the oxygen-deficient perovskite-based AnBnO3n−2 homologous series, was synthesized using a solid-state method. The crystal structure of Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 was investigated by a combination of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. At 900K, it crystallizes in the Ammm space group with the unit cell parameters a=5.8459(1)Å, b=4.0426(1)Å, and c=27.3435(1)Å. In the Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 structure, quasi-two-dimensional perovskite blocks are periodically interleaved with ½[110] (1¯ 0 1)p crystallographic shear (CS) planes. At the CS planes, the corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra are transformed into chains of edge-sharing FeO5 distorted tetragonal pyramids. B-positions of the perovskite blocks between the CS planes are jointly occupied by Fe3+ and Sc3+. The chains of the FeO5 pyramids and (Fe,Sc)O6 octahedra delimit six-sided tunnels that are occupied by double columns of cations with a lone electron pair (Pb2+). The remaining A-cations (Bi3+, Ba2+) occupy positions in the perovskite block. According to the magnetic susceptibility measurements, Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 is antiferromagnetically ordered below TN ≈350K.

New Clues to the Local Atomic Structure of Short-Range Ordered Ferric Arsenate from Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy

Short-range ordered ferric arsenate (FeAsO4 · xH2O) is a secondary As precipitate frequently encountered in acid mine waste environments. Two distinct structural models have recently been proposed for this phase. The first model is based on the structure of scorodite (FeAsO4 · 2H2O) where isolated FeO6 octahedra share corners with four adjacent arsenate (AsO4) tetrahedra in a three-dimensional framework (framework model). The second model consists of single chains of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra being bridged by AsO4 bound in a monodentate binuclear (2)C complex (chain model). In order to rigorously test the accuracy of both structural models, we synthesized ferric arsenates and analyzed their local (<6 Å) structure by As and Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. We found that both As and Fe K-edge EXAFS spectra were most compatible with isolated FeO6 octahedra being bridged by AsO4 tetrahedra (RFe-As = 3.33 ± 0.01 Å). Our shell-fit results further indicated a lack of evidence for single corner-sharing FeO6 linkages in ferric arsenate. Wavelet-transform analyses of the Fe K-edge EXAFS spectra of ferric arsenates complemented by shell fitting confirmed Fe atoms at an average distance of ∼5.3 Å, consistent with crystallographic data of scorodite and in disagreement with the chain model. A scorodite-type local structure of short-range ordered ferric arsenates provides a plausible explanation for their rapid transformation into scorodite in acid mining environments.

Structure and reactivity of As(III)- and As(V)-rich schwertmannites and amorphous ferric arsenate sulfate from the Carnoulès acid mine drainage, France: Comparison with biotic and abiotic model compounds and implications for As remediation

Poorly ordered nanocrystalline hydroxysulfate minerals of microbial origin, such as schwertmannite, Fe8O8(OH)6SO4, are important arsenic scavengers in sulfate-rich acid mine drainage (AMD) environments. However, despite the fact that As(III) and As(V) have been shown to sorb on schwertmannite, little is known about the actual mechanism of arsenic scavenging processes after microbial Fe(II) oxidation in AMD environments. The major focus of the present study is to determine the molecular-level structure of poorly ordered As(III) and As(V) bearing Fe oxyhydroxysulfate minerals from the Carnoulès AMD, France, which exhibits exceptional As(III) concentrations. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy were used to compare field samples with a large set of synthetic analogs prepared via biotic or abiotic pathways, with As/Fe ratios typical of minerals and mineraloids ranging from nanocrystalline schwertmannite to amorphous hydroxysulfate compounds. Our results yield further evidence for the poisoning effect of As(V) in limiting the nucleation of schwertmannite. For initial dissolved As(V)/Fe(III) molar ratios ⩾0.2, amorphous Fe(III)–As(V) hydroxysulfate forms, with a local structure consistent with that of amorphous ferric arsenate. EXAFS data for this amorphous material are consistent with corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra to which AsO4 tetrahedra attach via double-corner 2C linkages. For As(V)/Fe(III) molar ratios lower than 0.2, As(V) binds to schwertmannite via 2C surface complexes. In contrast with the As(V)-containing samples, As(III) has a lower affinity for schwertmannite following its nucleation, as this mineral phase persists up to an initial As(III)/Fe(III) molar ratio of 0.6. EXAFS data indicate that during the precipitation process, As(III) forms dominantly 2C surface complexes on schwertmannite surfaces, likely on the sides of double-chains of Fe(III)(O,OH)6 octahedra, with a smaller proportion of edge-sharing 2E surface complexes at the apexes of these chains. Importantly, dissolved As(V) concentrations in contact with As(V)–schwertmannite or ferric arsenate were found to be ∼10 times lower than dissolved As(III) concentrations in contact with As(III)–schwertmannite for similar As/Fe ratios in the solid phase. Consequently, remediation of As-rich AMD environments is greatly improved by oxidation of As(III) to As(V).

A Layered Iron(III) Phosphate Phase, Na3Fe3(PO4)4: Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties as Positive Electrode in Sodium Batteries

For the first time, a powder of Na3Fe3(PO4)4 was obtained by solid state reaction. It crystallizes in monoclinic space group C2/c in good agreement with previous studies of a single crystal. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD pattern showed line broadening of some diffraction lines associated with size and strain effects. Its layered structure can be described by complex layers of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra connected by PO4 tetrahedra through corner and edge sharing. The Na+ ions are located in the interslab space. The local environments of Fe, Na, and P were characterized by 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and 23Na and 31P MAS NMR. A Second ORder Graphic Extrapolation (SORGE) diagram as introduced by Massiot et al. allowed us to fully interpret the 23Na MAS NMR spectrum that exhibits three signals for two crystallographic Na sites. The electrochemical properties of Na3Fe3(PO4)4 were tested in sodium cells. Ex situ and in situ X-ray diffraction data and Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements indicate that the...

The crystal structures of kidwellite and ‘laubmannite’, two complex fibrous iron phosphates

AbstractThe previously unknown, complex crystal structures of two fibrous ferric iron phosphate minerals have been solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure of a slightly arsenatian kidwellite has been refined in space group P2/c (a = 20.117(4), b = 5.185(1), c = 13.978(3)Å, β = 107.07(3)°, V = 1393.8(5)Å3, Z = 2) to R1 = 5.21%; a revision of both space group symmetry and chemical formula is proposed. The idealized formula is Na(Fe3+,M)9+x(OH)11(H2O)3(PO4)6, where M = Fe3+, Cu2+ or other metal cation, and x ≈ 0.3. The structure of a slightly arsenatian ‘laubmannite’ (as defined by Moore, 1970) has been refined in space group Pbcm (a = 5.172(1), b = 13.999(3), c = 31.083(6)Å, V = 2250.5(8)Å3, Z = 4) to R1 = 3.14%. The revised, idealized formula is (Fe3+,Fe2+,M)8+x(OH,H2O)9(-H2O)2(PO4)5, where M = Fe3+, Cu2+ or other metal cation, and x ≈ 0.1. The framework structures of both minerals are similar. Dominant building units are dimers composed of face- and edge-sharing FeO6 octahedra. Whereas kidwellite contains an additional trimer built of three corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra, ‘laubmannite’ instead contains a dimer built of two corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra. Kidwellite contains only trivalent iron, while one of the Fe sites in ‘laubmannite’ is occupied by a mixture of Fe3+ and Fe2+ in a 1:1 ratio. In both structures, the FeO6-based building units are linked via corners to PO4 tetrahedra; the M sites are located in narrow channels and have very low occupancies (~2 to 7%) and strongly distorted [6]- or [5+1]-coordinations. Close structural relations between kidwellite and ‘laubmannite’, and other fibrous iron phosphates explain observations of epitaxial intergrowths of them.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Lithium Iron Diarsenate, LiFeAs2O7

A new iron(III) diarsenate, LiFeAs2O7, was synthesized hydrothermally at 230°C and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 (No. 5) with a = 6.676(2) Å, b = 8.285(2) Å, c = 4.744(2) Å, β = 103.96(2)°, Z = 2, and R = 0.0192. SHG measurements on a powder sample confirm the absence of center of symmetry in the structure. The structure consists of intersecting tunnels running along the [001] and <110> directions, and the Li+ ions are located at the intersection of these tunnels. The framework is built up from corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra and As2O7 groups. The structure is discussed along with the phosphate analog LiFeP2O7.

RbFe(HPO4)2: an iron(III) phosphate with an intersecting tunnel structure

A new iron(III) phosphate, RbFe(HPO4)2, has been synthesised hydrothermally at 230°C and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal is trigonal with a very long c axis: space group Rc, a= 8.160(1), c= 52.75(1)A, Z= 18 and R= 0.0207. The compound adopts an intersecting tunnel structure, with the rubidium cations in the tunnels. The framework consists of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra and HPO4 groups. A triclinic polymorph was also obtained.