Siderite dissolution in the presence of chromate

Siderite (FeCO3) is an important reduced phase iron mineral and end product of bacteria anaerobic respiration. This study addresses its dissolution behavior in the presence of the oxidant chromate, which is a common environmental contaminant. Macroscopic dissolution experiments combined with microscopic observations by atomic force microscopy show that at pH < 4.5 the dissolution rate with chromate is slower than that in control solution without chromate. Isolated deep dissolution pits and clustered shallow pits occur simultaneously with surface precipitation. The implication is that the surface precipitate inhibits further dissolution. For 5 < pH < 9.5, the slowest dissolution and the fastest precipitation rates are observed, both at edge steps and on terraces. For pH > 10, the dissolution rate in the presence of chromate exceeds that of the control, plausibly due to electron transfer facilitated by [Fe3+(OH)4]-Fe3+(OH)4-. Dissolution and re-precipitation of round hillocks are observed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the presence of Cr(III) as well as reaction products in a hydroxide form. Based on the redox reaction mechanism, macroscopic dissolution behavior, and previous studies on the reaction products of Fe(II) with Cr(VI), we propose the formation of a low solubility nano-sized Cr(III)–Fe(III)-hydroxide as the surface precipitate. Results from this study provide a basis for understanding and quantifying the interactions between reduced-iron minerals and aqueous-phase oxidants.