This work elucidates spatio-temporal aspects of the biogeochemical transformation of copper mobilized from malachite (Cu2 (CO3 )(OH)2 ) and bioaccumulated within Aspergillus niger colonies when grown on different inorganic nitrogen sources. It was shown that the use of either ammonium or nitrate determined how copper was distributed within the colony and its microenvironment and the copper oxidation state and succession of copper coordinating ligands within the biomass. Nitrate-grown colonies yielded ∼1.7× more biomass, bioaccumulated ∼7× less copper, excreted ∼1.9× more oxalate and produced ∼1.75× less water-soluble copper in the medium in contrast to ammonium-grown colonies. Microfocus X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that as the mycelium matured, bioaccumulated copper was transformed from less stable and more toxic Cu(I) into less toxic Cu(II) which was coordinated predominantly by phosphate/malate ligands. With time, a shift to oxalate coordination of bioaccumulated copper occurred in the central older region of ammonium-grown colonies.

Fe L-2,L-3-edge XAS and XMCD studies have been used to unravel structural trends in the MgAl2O4-Fe3O4 solid solution where thermodynamic modeling has presented a challenge due to the complex ordering arrangements of the end-members. Partitioning of Fe3+ and Fe2+ between tetrahedral (Td) and octahedral (Oh) sites has been established. In the most Fe-rich samples, despite rapid quenching from a disordered state, Fe-Td(2+) is not present, which matches the ordered, inverse spinel nature of end-member magnetite (Mgt) at room temperature. However, in intermediate compositions Al and Mg substantially replace Fe and small amounts of Fe-Td(2+) are found, stabilized, or trapped by decreasing occurrence of the continuous nearest neighbor Fe-Fe interactions that facilitate charge redistribution by electron transfer. Furthermore, in the composition range similar to Mgt(0.4-0.9), XAS and XMCD bonding and site occupancy data suggest that nanoscale, magnetite-like Fe clusters are present. By contrast, at the spinel-rich end of the series, Mgt(0.17) and Mgt(0.23) have a homogeneous long-range distribution of Fe, Mg, and Al. These relationships are consistent with the intermediate and Fe-rich samples falling within a wide solvus in this system such that the Fe-clusters occur as proto-nuclei for phases that would exsolve following development of long-range crystalline order during slow cooling.Unit-cell edges calculated from the spectroscopy-derived site occupancies show excellent agreement with those measured by X-ray powder diffraction on the bulk samples. Calculated saturation magnetic moments (M-s) for the Fe-rich samples also show excellent agreement with measured values but for the most Mg-rich samples are displaced to slightly higher values; this displacement is due to the presence of abundant Mg and Al disrupting the anti-parallel alignment of electron spins for Fe atoms.

AbstractA new protocol for the quantitative determination of zeolite-group mineral compositions by electron probe microanalysis (wavelength-dispersive spectrometry) under ambient conditions, is presented. The method overcomes the most serious challenges for this mineral group, including new confidence in the fundamentally important Si-Al ratio. Development tests were undertaken on a set of natural zeolite candidate reference samples, representing the compositional extremes of Na, K, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba zeolites, to demonstrate and assess the extent of beam interaction effects on each oxide component for each mineral. These tests highlight the variability and impact of component mobility due to beam interaction, and show that it can be minimized with recommended operating conditions of 15 kV, 2 nA, a defocused, 20 μm spot size, and element prioritizing with the spectrometer configuration. The protocol represents a pragmatic solution that works, but provides scope for additional optimization where required. Vital to the determination of high-quality results is the attention to careful preparations and the employment of strict criteria for data reduction and quality control, including the monitoring and removal of non-zeolitic contaminants from the data (mainly Fe and clay phases). Essential quality criteria include the zeolite-specific parameters of R value (Si/(Si + Al + Fe3+), the 'E%' charge-balance calculation, and the weight percent of non-hydrous total oxides. When these criteria are applied in conjunction with the recommended analytical operating conditions, excellent inter-batch reproducibility is demonstrated. Application of the method to zeolites with complex solid-solution compositions is effective, enabling more precise geochemical discrimination for occurrence-composition studies. Phase validation for the reference set was conducted satisfactorily with the use of X-ray diffraction and laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectroscopy.

Fe L2,3-edge XAS and XMCD studies have been used to unravel structural trends in the MgAl2O4– Fe3O4 solid solution where thermodynamic modeling has presented a challenge due to the complex ordering arrangements of the end-members. Partitioning of Fe3+ and Fe2+ between tetrahedral (Td) and octahedral (Oh) sites has been established. In the most Fe-rich samples, despite rapid quenching from a disordered state, Fe2+ Td is not present, which matches the ordered, inverse spinel nature of end-member magnetite (Mgt) at room temperature. However, in intermediate compositions Al and Mg substantially replace Fe and small amounts of Fe2+ Td are found, stabilized, or trapped by decreasing occurrence of the continuous nearest neighbor Fe–Fe interactions that facilitate charge redistribution by electron transfer. Furthermore, in the composition range ~Mgt0.4–0.9, XAS and XMCD bonding and site occupancy data suggest that nanoscale, magnetite-like Fe clusters are present. By contrast, at the spinel-rich end of the series, Mgt0.17 and Mgt0.23 have a homogeneous long-range distribution of Fe, Mg, and Al. These relationships are consistent with the intermediate and Fe-rich samples falling within a wide solvus in this system such that the Fe-clusters occur as proto-nuclei for phases that would exsolve following development of long-range crystalline order during slow cooling. Unit-cell edges calculated from the spectroscopy-derived site occupancies show excellent agreement with those measured by X-ray powder diffraction on the bulk samples. Calculated saturation magnetic moments (Ms) for the Fe-rich samples also show excellent agreement with measured values but for the most Mg-rich samples are displaced to slightly higher values; this displacement is due to the presence of abundant Mg and Al disrupting the anti-parallel alignment of electron spins for Fe atoms.

Although there is consensus that microorganisms significantly influence uranium speciation and mobility in the subsurface under circumneutral conditions, microbiologically mediated U(VI) redox cycling under alkaline conditions relevant to the geological disposal of cementitious intermediate level radioactive waste, remains unexplored. Here, we describe microcosm experiments that investigate the biogeochemical fate of U(VI) at pH 10-10.5, using sediments from a legacy lime working site, stimulated with an added electron donor, and incubated in the presence and absence of added Fe(III) as ferrihydrite. In systems without added Fe(III), partial U(VI) reduction occurred, forming a U(IV)-bearing non-uraninite phase which underwent reoxidation in the presence of air (O2) and to some extent nitrate. By contrast, in the presence of added Fe(III), U(VI) was first removed from solution by sorption to the Fe(III) mineral, followed by bioreduction and (bio)magnetite formation coupled to formation of a complex U(IV)-bearing phase with uraninite present, which also underwent air (O2) and partial nitrate reoxidation. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing showed that Gram-positive bacteria affiliated with the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated in the post-reduction sediments. These data provide the first insights into uranium biogeochemistry at high pH and have significant implications for the long-term fate of uranium in geological disposal in both engineered barrier systems and the alkaline, chemically disturbed geosphere.

Microcosms containing sediment from an aquifer in Cambodia with naturally elevated levels of arsenic in the associated groundwater were used to evaluate the effectiveness of microbially mediated production of iron minerals for in situ As remediation. The microcosms were first incubated without amendments for 28 days, and the release of As and other geogenic chemicals from the sediments into the aqueous phase was monitored. Nitrate or a mixture of sulfate and lactate was then added to stimulate biological Fe(II) oxidation or sulfate reduction, respectively. Without treatment, soluble As concentrations reached 3.9 ± 0.9 μM at the end of the 143-day experiment. However, in the nitrate- and sulfate-plus-lactate-amended microcosms, soluble As levels decreased to 0.01 and 0.41 ± 0.13 μM, respectively, by the end of the experiment. Analyses using a range of biogeochemical and mineralogical tools indicated that sorption onto freshly formed hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) and iron sulfide mineral phases are the likely mechanisms for As removal in the respective treatments. Incorporation of the experimental results into a one-dimensional transport-reaction model suggests that, under conditions representative of the Cambodian aquifer, the in situ precipitation of HFO would be effective in bringing groundwater into compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guideline value for As (10 ppb or 0.13 μM), although soluble Mn release accompanying microbial Fe(II) oxidation presents a potential health concern. In contrast, production of biogenic iron sulfide minerals would not remediate the groundwater As concentration below the recommended WHO limit.

Well-constrained laboratory incubations of a ferruginous marine hydrothermal sediment from Santorini, Greece, were used to elucidate the effect of microbially induced redox transformations on arsenic speciation and mobility. Despite naturally high arsenic concentrations (∼400mg/kg), the sediment has a low As:Fe ratio (1:1000wt/wt). Acetate-amendment of sediment, extracted from the naturally-occurring suboxic–anoxic (Eh −60 to −138mV) transition zone, promoted Fe(III) reduction, and increased the concentration of Fe(II) from ∼40% to ∼60% in the bulk sediment. Sulfate, which was present at lower concentrations, was also reduced. Phylogenetic 16S rRNA and dsr gene analysis suggested that Fe(III) and sulfate were reduced by bacteria related to Malonomonas rubra and Desulfosarcina variabilis, respectively. Arsenic remained predominantly as arsenic trioxide (As2O3) throughout the amendment experiment. However, the percentage of total arsenic present within poorly-crystalline iron oxides decreased from ∼69% to ∼32%, while the percentage incorporated within crystalline iron-containing minerals or sorbed to surfaces via inner-sphere complexes increased significantly (to 22% and 30%, respectively). Re-oxidation of the system with nitrate resulted in incomplete reduction of the nitrate pool, and partial re-association of arsenic with the poorly-crystalline iron fraction. Exposure to air led to virtually complete reversal of the arsenic partitioning, and oxidation of 71% As(III) to As(V). During aeration, oxidation of sediment-bound sulfur/sulfide occurred, alongside an observed ∼63% decrease in arsenic bound to this minor component. Analogous trends in arsenic-sediment associations were observed in the natural, unamended sediment depth-profile, whereby a greater proportion of arsenic (34% As(III), 66% As(V)) was bound within poorly-crystalline iron oxides at the sediment–water interface. Arsenic (96% As(III)) was increasingly incorporated within well-crystallized forms of iron with depth and decreasing Eh values. At the greatest depth sampled (35cm) arsenic increased substantially within the sulfide/organic fraction. Results here contribute to existing evidence that arsenic is not necessarily released from iron-rich sediment systems under conditions of anoxia, but that Fe(II)-bearing minerals forming concomitantly can immobilize arsenic in the solid-phase. Such results may have implications for other systems with high Fe:As ratios.

While amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) has been widely exploited as a precursor to crystalline calcium carbonate in solution, the synthetic potential of crystallising ACC in the solid state has received little attention. Building on our recent results which demonstrate that additives occluded within ACC can facilitate its crystallisation in the solid state, we here demonstrate that annealing of ACC nanoparticles precipitated within Na-AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate) reverse microemulsions not only leads to remarkable control over the size and morphology of the particles, but that polymorph selectivity can also be achieved through selection of the thermal profile. The ACC precipitated within the microemulsions crystallised at just 70 °C on incubation at this temperature for 12 hours and non-aggregated, sub-micron crystals of either calcite or vaterite – which are often difficult to access using standard synthetic protocols – were produced according to the heating rate employed. The observed low-temperature crystallisation was attributed to surfactant molecules entrapped with the ACC particles during their formation, where these impurities act to facilitate nucleation of a crystalline phase within the ACC. These results therefore highlight the potential of using thermal treatment of dry ACC as a route to achieving control over calcium carbonate formation that is sometimes difficult to achieve in solution.

Radiation damage in mineral structures is of interest because of their consideration as radioactive waste forms. Examples of damage occuring on geological timescales are available in nature. Alpha particle damage around actinidebearing inclusions in silicates is best observed in the mineral biotite where a ca 35 micron damage halo is seen. By using combined synchrotron XAS and XRD at the Diamond Light Source, UK, the changes across the damaged zone around a U/Th-bearing monazite inclusion was investigated. Fe K-edge XANES from a traverse shows that within the damaged zone the biotite Fe3+ is reduced, perhaps as a consequence of radiolysis of the OH groups in the octahedral layers. The Fe K-edge EXAFS show an increase in disorder in the damaged zone. The micro XRD showed major changes in the biotite lattice as the U/Th containing inclusion was approached. The use of a single crystal positioned perpendicular to (001) enhanced the a, b plane reflections. The diffraction spots representing 110 and other sub-parallel planes show evidence of amorphisation of the biotite lattice. Also new reflections appear at d-spacings close to the main reflections, indicating local changes to the structure as a result of atomic displacements during the development of Frenkel pairs.

Abstract X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) have been used to study the solid-phase speciation of Zn in urban road dust sediments (RDS) in Manchester, UK. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis using linear combination modelling suggest that the soluble species Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and ZnCl2 represent 70-83%, and Zn-sorbed goethite 17-30%, of the Zn species present. The presence of goethite is not corroborated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) modelled first shell scattering Zn-O distances of 2.01-2.03 Å, but this may be due to distortion of the Zn octahedra on the goethite surface, or the existence of Zn-sorbed species with other metal hydrous oxides, as inferred by the EXAFS-modelled second shell Fe and Al scatterers. Analysis by EXAFS also suggests that metallic Zn-Cu-Sn-Pb and Zn-silicate phases are present in the RDS, and this is corroborated by SEM and XRD. Other phases suggested by EXAFS include ZnO, franklinite, Zn-sorbed birnessite and zinc formate. Differences between the XANES and other results suggest that model compounds such as Zn-bearing phyllosilicates and metallic Zn phases may have been missing from the XANES fitting. Long-term low-level exposure to the RDS Zn phases identified may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases.

The introduction of earthworms into soils contaminated with metals and metalloids has been suggested to aid restoration practices. Eisenia veneta (epigeic), Lumbricus terrestris (anecic) and Allolobophora chlorotica (endogeic) earthworms were cultivated in columns containing 900 g soil with 1130, 345, 113 and 131 mg kg(-1) of As, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively, for up to 112 days, in parallel with earthworm-free columns. Leachate was produced by pouring water on the soil surface to saturate the soil and generate downflow. Ryegrass was grown on the top of columns to assess metal uptake into biota. Different ecological groups affected metals in the same way by increasing concentrations and free ion activities in leachate, but anecic L. terrestris had the greatest effect by increasing leachate concentrations of As by 267%, Cu by 393%, Pb by 190%, and Zn by 429% compared to earthworm-free columns. Ryegrass grown in earthworm-bearing soil accumulated more metal and the soil microbial community exhibited greater stress. Results are consistent with earthworm enhanced degradation of organic matter leading to release of organically bound elements. The degradation of organic matter also releases organic acids which decrease the soil pH. The earthworms do not appear to carry out a unique process, but increase the rate of a process that is already occurring. The impact of earthworms on metal mobility and availability should therefore be considered when inoculating earthworms into contaminated soils as new pathways to receptors may be created or the flow of metals and metalloids to receptors may be elevated.

It is well known that microbially mediated reduction can result in the removal of U(VI)(aq) from solution by forming poorly soluble U(IV) oxides; however, the fate of U(VI) already associated with mineral surfaces is less clear. Here we describe results from both oxic adsorption and anaerobic microcosm experiments to examine the fate of sorbed U(VI) during microbially mediated bioreduction. The microcosm experiments contained sediment representative of the nuclear facility at Dounreay, UK. In oxic adsorption experiments, uptake of U(VI) was rapid and complete from artificial groundwater and where groundwater was amended with 0.2 mmol l-1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) a complexing ligand used in nuclear fuel cycle operations. By contrast, uptake of U(VI) was incomplete in groundwaters amended with 10 mmol l-1 bicarbonate. Analysis of sediments using X-ray adsorption spectroscopy showed that in these oxic samples, U was present as U(VI). After anaerobic incubation of U(VI) labelled sediments for 120 days, microbially mediated Fe(III)- and SO42-- reducing conditions had developed and XAS data showed uranium was reduced to U(IV). Further investigation of the unamended groundwater systems, where oxic systems were dominated by U(VI) sorption, showed that reduction of sorbed U(VI) required an active microbial population and occurred after robust iron- and sulfate- reducing conditions had developed. Microbial community analysis of the bioreduced sediment showed a community shift compared to the oxic sediment with close relatives of Geobacter and Clostridium species, which are known to facilitate U(VI) reduction, dominating. Overall, efficient U(VI) removal from solution by adsorption under oxic conditions dominated in unamended and EDTA amended systems. In all systems bioreduction resulted in the formation of U(IV) in solids.

Single-crystal calcite nanowires are formed by crystallization of morphologically equivalent amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles within the pores of track etch membranes. The polyaspartic acid stabilized ACC is drawn into the membrane pores by capillary action, and the single-crystal nature of the nanowires is attributed to the limited contact of the intramembrane ACC particle with the bulk solution. The reaction environment then supports transformation to a single-crystal product.

Radium-226 is a naturally-occurring radioisotope with potentially significant radiological impact and whose environmental behaviour is of concern. The reactions of tracer (0.1-1 nM) dissolved Ra and its chemical analogue Ba with the surfaces of a range of carbonate minerals have been studied. All of the minerals react with Ra but, whereas calcite, dolomite, strontianite, rhodocrosite, ankerite and witherite all show increased uptake with increasing Ra concentration, suggesting a coprecipitation reaction (hence with phase formation limiting uptake), siderite, magnesite and ankerite show behaviour suggesting simple sorption (with decreasing uptake as Ra concentration increases, or with no dependence on [Ra]). Magnesite, in particular, has a low sorption capacity.Barium has been used at higher (0.1-1 mM) concentrations to enable the use of surface analytical and imaging techniques in addition to bulk uptake measurements. Although the same eight carbonates were studied, measurable uptake occurs only on dolomite, magnesite and siderite. For siderite and magnesite, there is an approximately linear relationship between the increasing solid and solution phase Ba concentrations. suggesting a simple sorption process. Dolomite shows more complex behaviour suggesting simple sorption at the lowest concentrations and phase formation at higher concentrations (>0.4 mmol L(-1)). The latter observation is consistent with spectroscopic evidence for the formation of witherite. Surface analysis and imaging of the three carbonate substrates that react with Ba show a diversity of behaviour, partly as a result of using natural minerals in these experiments. Witherite is commonly formed as a surface precipitate although the presence of even trace SO(4)(2-) leads to barite formation. The surface phases display a range of characteristic morphologies, and the surface structure has the effect of templating growth. The presence of even minor amounts of Fe (hydr)oxide phases as alteration products or precipitates on the carbonates is also important, since Ba has a strong affinity for these phases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A wooden shovel, dating from the Early Bronze Age, has survived in a remarkable state of preservation in the copper mines of Alderley Edge, Cheshire UK. Other historic timbers recovered from the mines, whilst still intact, have fared less well. An X-ray investigation into the distribution of minerals through the shovel using portable X-ray Fluorescence (PXRF) along with the use of synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) measurements of the copper and arsenic chemical speciations has provided clues to the methods by which metals from the mining environment have entered the wood of the shovel and ensured its survival. The distribution and nature of the minerals so determined suggest that the copper and arsenic, along with a significant lead content, entered the shovel during its original use in working mineral-rich deposits, rather than through the burial environment. The insights gained are expected to be applicable to other wooden artefacts recovered from ancient copper mines in other places.

Microbial processes can affect the environmental behavior of redox sensitive radionuclides, and understanding these reactions is essential for the safe management of radioactive wastes. Neptunium, an alpha-emitting transuranic element, is of particular importance because of its long half-life, high radiotoxicity, and relatively high solubility as Np(V)O(2)(+) under oxic conditions. Here, we describe experiments to explore the biogeochemistry of Np where Np(V) was added to oxic sediment microcosms with indigenous microorganisms and anaerobically incubated. Enhanced Np removal to sediments occurred during microbially mediated metal reduction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed this was due to reduction to poorly soluble Np(IV) on solids. In subsequent reoxidation experiments, sediment-associated Np(IV) was somewhat resistant to oxidative remobilization. These results demonstrate the influence of microbial processes on Np solubility and highlight the critical importance of radionuclide biogeochemistry in nuclear legacy management.

The quality of the urban environment is of growing concern as its human population continues to dramatically increase. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and SEM have been used to study the solid-phase speciation of Pb in urban road dust sediments (RDS) in Manchester, UK. XANES analysis and linear combination modeling indicate that PbCrO(4) and Pb-sorbed goethite occur in 1000-500 microm, 250-125 microm, 63-38 microm, and <38 microm size fractions, collectively representing between 51-67% of the contributing Pb-phases. XANES analysis suggests that PbO, PbCl2, and Pb carbonates are also present. EXAFS modeling for all grain size fractions gives best fit models with a first shell of two oxygen atoms at 2.29-2.32 A, which corroborate the possible presence of Pb-sorbed goethite, and also suggest the presence of Pb phosphates and Pb oxides. Second shell Pb-Fe and second and third shell Pb-Pb scattering distances confirm Pb-sorbed to Fe oxide, and PbCl2 and PbCrO4, respectively. Many of the XAS models are corroborated by SEM observations. The Pb-phases may pose a risk to human health if inhaled or ingested, with insoluble phases such as PbCrO4 potentially causing inflammation in the lungs, and soluble phases such as PbO potentially being the most bioaccessible in the digestive tract.

Acid waters and sediments of the Tinto Santa Rosa acid stream (Iberian Pyritic Belt; SW, Spain) were analysed to determine the role of sedimentary phases in the behaviour of arsenic. Aqueous arsenic and iron concentrations decreased markedly from the adit mouth to 300 m downstream indicating iron minerals precipitation as well as arsenic sorption onto these newly-formed phases. This was confirmed by the high arsenic concentrations observed in bed-stream precipitates, which play a major role in controlling arsenic mobility. To unravel the complex nature of the AMD sediments a combination of techniques including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), total solid digestions, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) were employed. Results showed that (1) arsenic was present predominantly in its pentavalent state; (2) upstream arsenic was sorbed onto the main phase, schwertmannite, whereas downstream it was chiefly associated with goethite and jarosite; and (3) changes in arsenic speciation with depth were observed in the consolidated terrace sediments, where arsenic appeared primarily associated with schwertmannite in the upper part of the terraces, but with goethite at depth. Arsenic mobilization was controlled by sorption onto newly formed precipitates (schwertmannite, goethite and jarosite), causing natural arsenic attenuation.