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Effects of Competing Anions and Iron Bioreduction on Arsenic Desorption

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Abstract

Dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria play a fundamental role in catalysing the redox transformations that ultimately control the mobility of As in anoxic environments, a process also controlled by the presence of competing anions. In this study, we investigated the decoupling of As from loaded Al and Fe (hydr)oxides by competing anions in the presence of iron-reducing bacteria. Hematite, goethite, ferrihydrite, gibbsite and three aluminium-substituted goethites (AlGts) were synthesised and loaded with arsenate, followed by anaerobic incubation with different phosphate or carbonate-containing media in the presence of catalytic iron-reducing bacteria. Soluble Al, As, Fe and P contents were measured in aliquots by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry following periodical sampling. Shewanella putrefaciens cells were able to utilise both non-crystalline and crystalline Fe (hydr)oxides as electron acceptors, releasing Fe and As into solution. Phosphate and carbonate affected the Fe bioreduction, probably due to the precipitation of metastable mineral phases and also to phosphate-induced stabilisation on the hydroxide surfaces. Phosphate precipitation acted as a sink for As, thus limiting its mobilisation. The highest fraction of desorbed As by phosphate was observed for gibbsite, followed by AlGts. Similarly, gibbsite showed significant amounts of arsenate displaced by carbonate. In spite of its low crystallinity, ferrihydrite was the most efficient compound in retaining arsenate, possibly due to As co-precipitation. This study provides new insight into the management of As-contaminated soils and sediments containing Al-goethites and gibbsite, where the Fe activity may be too low to co-precipitate As-bearing vivianite. Thus, the dynamics of As(V) in flooded soils are significant in agriculture and environmental management.

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Acknowledgments

The support from the Minas Gerais State Foundation (FAPEMIG) and the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) are gratefully acknowledged. Part of this study was carried out while the first author was a visiting researcher at The University of Queensland (UQ), with funding from CNPq and a UQ research grant. Laboratory work was carried out in the School of Earth Sciences at UQ (Australia) and in the Soil Department of the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil). The authors are also grateful to Ms. Jenny Spratley (Australian Collection of Microorganisms at UQ), who provided the S. putrefaciens cells used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Embrapa Vegetables, Rod. BR 060, km 09, Brasília/Anápolis, 70359-970, CP 218, Gama, Federal District, Brazil

    Juscimar Silva

  2. Soil Department, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36570-000

    Jaime Wilson Vargas de Mello & Walter Antônio Pereira Abrahão

  3. School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Massimo Gasparon

  4. National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT Acqua, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Juscimar Silva & Jaime Wilson Vargas de Mello

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  1. Juscimar Silva
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  4. Walter Antônio Pereira Abrahão
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Correspondence to Juscimar Silva.

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Silva, J., de Mello, J.W.V., Gasparon, M. et al. Effects of Competing Anions and Iron Bioreduction on Arsenic Desorption. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 5707–5717 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1308-0

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