Solubility Of Antimony Research Articles

The Solubility of Antimony (Sb) in Liquid Hydrocarbons and Its Implication for the Ore-Forming Process of Orogenic Antimony-Gold Deposits in Southern Tibet

Orogenic antimony-gold deposits contribute significantly to the global antimony resource base. China’s orogenic antimony-gold deposits are primarily in southern Tibet. Investigations indicate that antimony combines and migrates with sulfur hydroxides in ore-forming fluids. Previous research on fluid inclusions in orogenic antimony-gold ores with sedimentary rock accommodation revealed the presence of organic inclusions, including liquid hydrocarbons, alongside common components such as CO2, H2O, CH4, and NaCl. However, the impact of liquid hydrocarbons on antimony migration and mineralization is still debatable. To investigate the transportability of antimony by liquid hydrocarbons in orogenic antimony ores, we selected n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane as the subjects. We measured the solubility and occurrence form of antimony in these compounds at various temperatures and durations. The results indicate that after 5 and 10 days of reaction at 100 °C, the antimony concentrations in the n-dodecanethiol and n-dodecane groups were 67.44 ± 7.62 ppm, 75.15 ± 16.74 ppm, 1.40 ± 1.02 ppm, and 3.02 ± 3.09 ppm, respectively. At 150 °C for 5 and 10 days, the respective concentrations were 50.58 ± 5.39 ppm, 77.26 ± 45.20 ppm, 2.66 ± 3.08 ppm, and 2.41 ± 2.03 ppm. At 200 °C for 5 and 10 days, the corresponding concentrations were 339.76 ± 71.94 ppm, 218.97 ± 25.03 ppm and 6.53 ± 7.17 ppm, 2.27 ± 0.82 ppm (n = 3). The measured solubility of antimony in the n-dodecanethiol group increased gradually with rising temperature. The solubility of antimony in the n-dodecane group was low and notably inferior to that observed in the n-dodecanethiol group. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated a distinct thiol (R-SH) peak at 163.31 eV and compound peaks of antimony reacting with thiols at 162.06 and 160.87 eV. This suggests that antimony predominantly forms complexes with thiols for migration. Our findings suggest that specific liquid hydrocarbon components, predominantly thiols, can interact with antimony at metallogenic temperatures and persist in ore-forming fluids, facilitating migration and mineral enrichment. Earlier experimental studies on gold and crude oil have indicated that liquid hydrocarbons also play an essential role in the transportation and enrichment of gold during the formation of gold deposits, thus indicating that liquid hydrocarbons possess the considerable potential to act as an ore-forming fluid during orogenic antimony-gold deposit formation in southern Tibet.

Aluminum adsorption and antimonite oxidation dominantly regulate antimony solubility in soils

Soil antimony (Sb) contamination occurs globally due to natural processes and human activities. Total Sb concentration in soils fails to assess its ecological risk, while determined by the concentration of available Sb, which is readily for biological uptake. Available Sb in different soils varied significantly according to soil properties. However, so far it is unknown how soil properties regulate Sb availability, and no model has been established to predict it through soil properties. In this study, 19 soils spiked with antimonite [Sb(III)] were used to identify the major factors controlling Sb availability and establish its predicting models. The results showed that available Sb in different soils varied largely depending on the contents of free aluminum (fAl), free iron (fFe) and electric conductivity (EC), which explained 33%, 27% and 24.9% of the total variation, respectively. During the first 42 days of soil aging, fAl and EC effectively predicted the concentrations of available Sb with R2 = 0.64, while during the later stages (70–150 d) of soil aging, fAl content was the unique parameter employed into the predicting model (R2 = 0.53). These results firstly demonstrate that the content of free aluminum (fAl) is the most important factor regulating Sb availability in soils, although the content of fAl is much lower than that of fFe. This finding can help to develop new remediation materials for Sb-contaminated soils. The prediction models can provide promising tools of assessing the ecological risk. In addition, Sb availability was also affected by the oxidation of Sb(III). After 150 days aging, 1–61% of Sb(III) was oxidized to pentavalent Sb [Sb(V)], which was significantly positively correlated with available Sb, suggesting that Sb(III) oxidization mobilizes Sb in soils. All these findings would help to understand Sb migration and transformation in soils, and to develop new strategies for remediating Sb-contaminated soils.

Aluminum Adsorption and Antimonite Oxidation Dominantly Regulate Antimony Solubility in Soils

Aluminum Adsorption and Antimonite Oxidation Dominantly Regulate Antimony Solubility in Soils

Aluminum Adsorption and Antimonite Oxidation Dominantly Regulate Antimony Solubility in Soils

Aluminum Adsorption and Antimonite Oxidation Dominantly Regulate Antimony Solubility in Soils

Solubility of bismuth, antimony and arsenic in synthetic and industrial copper electrorefining electrolyte

The precipitation of problematic Group 15 elements (As, Sb and Bi) in synthetic and industrial copper electrorefining electrolyte was examined. Using published thermodynamic values, the solubility products of BiAsO4 and SbAsO4 at 65 °C were calculated as 0.69 and 1.50 g2 L−2, respectively. Experiments were performed where solutions were spiked with arsenic, bismuth and/or antimony, and the start of precipitation was determined based on changes in solution turbidity. For arsenic concentrations of 9–13 g L−1, the concentrations of Bi necessary for the beginning of BiAsO4 precipitation were higher for the industrial electrolyte (0.25–0.50 g L−1) than the synthetic electrolyte (0.05–0.10 g L−1) at each arsenic concentration examined. The results indicate that industrial electrolyte has a greater capacity than the synthetic electrolyte with respect to the precipitation of BiAsO4. In the synthetic electrolyte, precipitation occurs at 0.30 g L−1 of Sb(III) in the presence of 9 g L−1 of As(V) without the addition of Bi, and 0.20 g L−1 with the addition 0.15 g L−1 Bi. At 10–12 g L−1 of As(V), a concentration of 0.10 g L−1 of Sb(III) produced precipitation. In industrial electrolyte, the increase in Sb(V) from 0.10 g L−1 to 0.16 g L−1, significantly increased precipitation. The presence of As and Sb in the +3 and + 5 appears to influence the solubility of antimony. Furthermore, the industrial electrolyte has enhanced solubility of Sb(III) up to 0.40 g L−1 before precipitation was detected.

Structural and dielectric performance of the Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3-xSbx)O3 perovskite ceramics

In this work, we have explored the antimony doping effects on the structural and dielectric properties of Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 ceramics (BZN). The ceramics displayed perovskite structures with a lattice constant that decreases with increasing Sb content. The antimony solubility limit of the BZN ceramics is Below this limit and in the range of the microstrain, the dislocation density and the stacking faults decreased and the crystallite size increases with increasing Sb content in the composition of BZN. When the limit is exceeded minor phases are predicted by software analysis and confirmed by the experimental techniques. The presence of these phases is also verified by the scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy techniques. Increasing the Sb content is observed to decrease the value of the dielectric constant. The Sb doped BZN ceramics exhibits high dielectric quality factors that nominate it for applications in electronics as radio waves resonators.

Antimony in the metallurgical industry: A review of its chemistry and environmental stabilization options

Antimony (Sb) is an impurity element that is increasingly encountered in the mineral processing/metallurgical industries of gold, copper and lead. Its occurrence in metallurgical feedstocks is in the form of various antimony minerals with stibnite, Sb2S3, being the most important one. During processing antimony is mobilized reporting to waste solid tailings or effluent streams. This becomes a matter of concern since antimony is similar to arsenic in many respects, both sharing similar chemical properties as well as toxicity and thus have negative environmental implications, especially in the context of industrial effluents and their treatment. This review summarizes the available literature on antimony in the environment and its removal with emphasis on effluent treatment. Antimony speciation as well as oxidation was presented at various conditions (pH, Eh, temperature, and concentration) to provide a basis of its aqueous behavior, an important foundation for industrial effluent treatment. For immobilizing antimony in the environment via precipitation from effluents several mineral candidates were identified of which schafarzikite, FeSb2O4, and tripuhyite, FeSbO4, were proposed as very attractive due to their very low antimony solubility (<1mgL−1).

Method for Determining the Doping Efficiency of Dispersed Semiconductor Metal Oxide Materials

In this paper, a method for determining the doping efficiency of dispersed semiconductor metal oxide materials is proposed proposing to use the dependences of the free charge carrier concentration, normalized to the concentration of the doping impurity (Ne spec.), on the content of this impurity. The possibilities of this method are demonstrated by the example of studying the effect of technological factors on the efficiency of doping of indium oxide with tin and doping of tin oxide with antimony. It is shown that it is impossible to achieve the concentration of free charge carriers in the ITO material, higher than that in ATO materials, due to the lower solubility of tin in the In2O3 lattice, as compared with the solubility of antimony in the SnO2 lattice.

Effects of natural and calcined oyster shells on antimony solubility in shooting range soil

Waste oyster shells (OS) and calcined oyster shells (COS) were used to treat metal-contaminated shooting range soil, where antimony (Sb) leachability was assessed. Changes in soil pH induced by the amendments strongly influenced Sb leachability. Sb was immobilized by COS most likely due to calcium antimonate precipitation. This is the first time to our knowledge to report that COS can effectively immobilize Sb in the soil.

Effects of waterlogging on the solubility and redox state of Sb in a shooting range soil and its uptake by grasses: a tank experiment

AimsThe effects of waterlogging on redox state and solubility of antimony (Sb) in a calcareous shooting range soil and its uptake by forage grass Lolium perenne L. and pasture weed Holcus lanatus L. were investigated.MethodsGrasses were grown on semi-waterlogged or waterlogged shooting range soil in a laboratory tank. The soil solution was sampled at various depths over time and analyzed for the concentrations of Sb(III), Sb(V) and total Sb, as well as other trace elements.ResultsAlthough the reduction of Sb(V) to Sb(III) under increased waterlogging time decreased Sb solubility, it increased Sb uptake by L. perenne from 1.1 to 1.7 mg kg−1 (and to a lesser extent H. lanatus), implying preferential uptake of Sb(III) by this grass. The tank showed considerable variation in redox conditions with depth and plant treatment. The soil root zone (30 cm for L. perenne and 15 cm for H. lanatus) instead of the water saturated bottom, showed the highest manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) concentrations in solution, accompanied by a higher proportion of Sb(III) in solution than the bottom zone of the tank.ConclusionsWaterlogging can increase the risk of Sb entering the food chain from shooting range soil.

Antimony biomethylation in culture media revisited in the light of solubility and chemical speciation considerations

Laboratory culture experiments have shown that antimony biomethylation can result from bacterial and fungal activity under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, in the light of our current knowledge of antimony solubility and equilibria, critical analysis of the conditions used in published laboratory studies reveals that solution chemistry was generally overlooked and oversaturated solutions were used. As a result, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to establish reliable observed effect-concentration relationships in the experiments published.

Solubility of Antimony and Other Elements in Samples Taken from Shooting Ranges

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not Sb and other elements (Ni, Cu, Bi, Tl, and Hg) originating from Pb alloy (2-5 wt. % Sb) bullets become more soluble as a result of weathering and what mechanisms possibly control their solubility. Samples were taken from bank material behind the targets at seven Swiss shooting ranges. The samples were dried, sieved, analyzed, and subjected to leaching experiments. Total average concentrations of Sb ranged from 0.5 to 13.8 g kg(-1). In the leaching experiments, Sb was almost exclusively present in solution as the oxidized species Sb(V) in concentrations of up to 5 mg L(-1). The Ca mineral Ca[Sb(OH)6]2 is suggested to control dissolved Sb(V) concentrations in soils at high concentrations. Oxalate extractions suggested that approximately 50% of Sb [predominantly Sb(V)] in the <0.5-mm fraction was adsorbed to Fe (hydr)oxides and possibly other minerals, such as calcite, that are soluble at pH 2. However, it is possible that only a fraction of the oxalate-extractable Sb(V) is reversibly bound to mineral surfaces. It was concluded that the release of Sb is significant and considerably higher than the other elements under investigation and that the mechanisms controlling Sb mobility should be further investigated.

Antimony Solubility and Speciation in Aqueous Sulphuric Acid Solutions at 298 K

AbstractThis work is an experimental and theoretical study of antimony speciation and the solubility of Sb2O5, Sb2O3 and Sb2(SO4)3 at 298 K in aqueous sulphuric acid solutions (0 to 6 kmol/m3). A thermodynamic model was developed to quantify the solubility products and aqueous metal speciation. Main dissolved species were H3SbO3(aq) and H3SbO4(aq). The solubility of antimony increases with increasing solution acidity and with the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the solution. The following standard equilibrium constants at 298 K were obtained: Log K0(Sb2O5) = 11.7±0.5, Log K0(Sb2O3) = 32±1, and Log K0(Sb2(SO4)3) = 55±2.

Phase Equilibrium in Nanometer-Sized Sb-Au Alloy Clusters

The phase equilibrium in nanometer (nm)-sized Sb-Au alloy clusters has been studied by means of analytical transmission electron microscopy using an electron probe of approximately 1 nm in diameter. When the cluster size is reduced below approximately 10 nm in mean diameter, the solid solubility of gold (or antimony) increases significantly in antimony (or gold) clusters, compared to that for the corresponding bulk material. For example, the solid solubility of antimony in approximately 7 nm-sized gold clusters amounts to at least 15 at%Sb, which is much higher than that in bulk gold (i.e., almost zero solubility). Such remarkable enhancement of solubility has been observed also in intermetallic compound AuSb 2 .

Effect of cluster size on phase stability in nm-sized Au-Sb alloy clusters

The effect of cluster size on the phase stability in nanometre (nm)-sized Au-Sb alloy clusters has been studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in order to see the difference in the phase stability between a bulk material and the corresponding nm-sized cluster. When the cluster size is reduced below approximately 6 nm in mean diameter, it is difficult to form distinct interfaces between two different phases (i.e. solid solution and AuSb 2) in the interior of individual Au-Sb alloy clusters. Analytical electron microscopy using an electron probe of approximately 1 nm in diameter revealed that the solid solubility of antimony in a few nm-sized gold clusters increases by at least one order of magnitude compared to that for the corresponding bulk material.

The massive stibnite veins of the French Palaeozoic basement: a metallogenic marker of Late Variscan brittle extension

ABSTRACTThe stibnite ore deposits of the French Palaeozoic basement are spatially related to major Late Variscan strike‐slip faults. They occur as small discontinuous veins mostly hosted in epizonal or catazonal siliciclastics. Stibnite crystallizes in the final stage of a polymetallic paragenesis from an antimony‐bearing solution, which deposits a first discrete Fe‐As assemblage at 300–400°C and 0.5–0.8 Kbar. Experimental data have shown that antimony solubility drastically decreases on cooling. Characterization of the Late Variscan antimony‐bearing fluids enables us to predict the temperature range ‐ 270/150°C ‐ under which stibnite was precipitated. Since the latter coincides with the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature range, the pressure at which stibnite crystallized can be estimated from vapour pressure data to have been around 0.1 Kbar.Extensional brittle shear zones, developed at the end of the Late Variscan orogeny (probably at the Westphalian/Stephanian boundary), drained the hydrothermal fluids near to the surface (c. 1000 m ?) reaching the critical P‐T conditions for stibnite crystallization.

Equilibrium Carrier Density and Solubility of Antimony in Silicon

The equilibrium solid solubility of antimony in silicon was determined in the range 850°–1300°C by carrier density measurements on polysilicon films doped by ion implantation. Up to 1150°C this property follows very tightly the exponential dependence with and . The values at higher temperatures show a smaller increase, the figures at 1200°, 1250°, and 1300°C being , respectively. The attainment of the two‐phase equilibrium was confirmed by carrier profile measurements on isothermally annealed single‐crystal specimens doped in a wide range of concentrations, as well as by TEM examinations which detected a high density of particles having the hexagonal structure of antimony. It is shown that the new solubility values, unlike the previous ones, fully comply with the conditions for phase equilibrium. According to this treatment, the values of 0.58 eV and of are deduced for the partial molar enthalpy and, respectively, for the excess partial molar entropy of the dopant in silicon relative to the standard liquid state of antimony.

Ｎａ２Ｏ‐ＳｉＯ２系スラグと溶融アンチモン間の不純物元素の分配平衡

Reduction smelting forming a soda base slag by addition of sodium salt is applied to the extraction of oxide ore or smelter recycles. To get a fundamental data on the reduction smelting of antimony, Na2O-SiO2 or FeOn-Na2O slag was equilibrated with metallic antimony containing small amount of impurities such as Fe, As, Sn, Pb, Cu at 1423 K. Dependences of the antimony solubility in slag and the distribution ratios of impurities upon oxygen potential and slag composition were clarified.The solubility of antimony in slag increases with increase of oxygen potential and the soda-ratio of nNa2O/(nNa2O+nSiO2). The activity coefficient of SbO1, 5 (1) in the basic slag of high soda-ratio varies from 1 to 0.001 depending on oxygen potential.Iron and arsenic are removable from crude antimony to soda base slag by control of oxygen potential and slag composition. While the acidic slag of low soda-ratio is suitable for removal of iron, the basic slag of high soda-ratio is effective to eliminate arsenic from crude antimony.

Solubility of antimony in cobalt, nickel and CoNi alloys

The solid solubility of antimony in cobalt, nickel and Co-Ni alloys has been examined by electron probe microanalysis. It has been ascertained that the solubility of antimony decreases abnormally below the Curie temperature. The compound phase γ-(Co, Ni)Sb equilibrates with the f.c.c. Co-Ni phase at less than 20% Ni, while β-(Ni, Co) 5Sb 2 appears in a region of higher nickel content. These experimental data have been analysed thermodynamically and the phase equilibria in the Co-Ni-Sb system below 50% Sb have been calculated.

Lung retention of antimony and arsenic in hamsters after the intratracheal instillation of industrial dust.

Airborne factory dust (with a volume median diameter of 5.0 micron and a geometric standard deviation of 2.1 micron) from a Swedish copper smeltery contained antimony (Sb) (1.6 weight %) and arsenic (As) (19 weight %). The dust was neutron activated and intratracheally instilled in hamsters. In vivo measurements of lung clearance were undertaken of the radionuclides 76As, 122Sb, and 124Sb. Comparison was made with pure substances of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3). Two phases were recognized in the clearance curves. The approximate half-time for the initial phase was 13 h for As2O3, 20 h for arsenic dust, about 40 h for Sb2O3, and about 30 h for antimony dust. The second phase had an approximate half-time of 20-40 d for Sb2O3 and antimony dust. Because of the short physical half-life of 76As, the second phase of the lung clearance was not possible to follow for AS2O3 and arsenic dust. The observed differences in clearance were primarily related to the solubility of the dust particles in saline, while particle size seemed to be less important in this instillation experiment. The low solubility of antimony in factory dust combined with a long biological half-time may be of importance in explaining the observed lung accumulation of antimony in exposed workers. The greater solubility and shorter biological half-time restricted the lung retention of arsenic.