Synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of synthetic Pb–As, Pb–Cu and Pb–Zn jarosites

The enthalpy of formation from the elements of well characterized Pb–As, Pb–Cu, and Pb–Zn synthetic jarosites, corresponding to chemical formulas (H3O)0.68±0.03Pb0.32±0.002Fe2.86±0.14(SO4)1.69±0.08(AsO4)0.31±0.02(OH)5.59±0.28(H2O)0.41±0.02, (H3O)0.67±0.03Pb0.33±0.02Fe2.71±0.14Cu0.25±0.01(SO4)2±0.00(OH)5.96±0.30(H2O)0.04±0.002 and (H3O)0.57±0.03Pb0.43±0.02Fe2.70±0.14Zn0.21±0.01(SO4)2±0.00(OH)5.95±0.30(H2O)0.05±0.002, was measured by high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry and gave ΔH°f = −3691.2 ± 8.6 kJ/mol, ΔH°f = −3653.6 ± 8.2 kJ/mol, and ΔH°f = −3669.4 ± 8.4 kJ/mol, respectively. Using estimated entropies, the standard Gibbs free energy of formation from elements at 298 K ΔG°f of the three compounds were calculated to be −3164.8 ± 9.1, −3131.4 ± 8.7, and −3153.6 ± 8.9 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on these free energies, their log Ksp values are −13.94 ± 1.89, −4.38 ± 1.81 and −3.75 ± 1.80, respectively. For this compounds, a log10{Pb2+}–pH diagram is presented. The diagram shows that the formation of Pb–As jarosite may decrease aqueous arsenic and lead concentrations to meet drinking water standards. The new thermodynamic data confirm that transformation of Pb–As jarosite to plumbojarosite is thermodynamically possible.