Kinetics of brucite dissolution at 25°C in the presence of organic and inorganic ligands and divalent metals

The effect of investigated ligands on brucite dissolution rate can be modelled within the framework of the surface coordination approach taking into account the adsorption of ligands on dissolution-active sites and the molecular structure of the surface complexes they form. The higher the value of the ligand sorption constant, the stronger will be its catalyzing or inhibiting effect. As for Fe and Al oxides, bi- or multidentate mononuclear surface complexes, that labilize Mg-O bonds and water coordination to Mg atoms at the surface, enhance brucite dissolution whereas bi- or polynuclear surface complexes tend to inhibit dissolution by bridging two or more metal centers and extending the cross-linking at the solid surface. Overall, results of this study demonstrate that very high concentrations of organic ligands (0.01-0.1 M) are necessary to enhance or inhibit brucite dissolution. As a result, the effect of extracellular organic products on the weathering rate of Mg-bearing minerals is expected to be weak.