Browsing by Author "Foerstendorf, H"
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- ItemSorption of U(VI) at the TiO2–water interface: An in situ vibrational spectroscopic study(Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2012-01-01) Muller, K; Foerstendorf, H; Meusel, T; Brendler, V; Lefevre, G; Comarmond, MJ; Payne, TEMolecular-scale knowledge of sorption reactions at the water-mineral interface is important for predicting U(VI) transport processes in the environment. In this work, in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy was used in a comprehensive investigation of the sorption processes of U(VI) onto TiO2. The high sensitivity of the in situ ATR FT-IR technique allows the study of U(VI) concentrations down to the low micromolar range, which is relevant to most environmental scenarios. A set of highly purified and well characterized TiO2 phases differing in their origin, the ratio of the most stable polymorphs (anatase and rutile), in specific surface area, isoelectric points and in particle size distribution was investigated. Irrespective of the composition of the mineral phase, it was shown that U(VI) forms similar surface complexes, which was derived from the antisymmetric stretching mode nu(3)(UO2) showing a characteristic shift to lower wavenumbers compared to the respective aqueous species. The availability of a fast scanning IR device makes it feasible to perform time-resolved experiments of the sorption processes with a time resolution in the sub-minute range. It is shown that during the early stages of the U(VI) uptake, a surface species on the mineral phase is formed, characterized by a significantly red-shifted absorption maximum which is interpreted as a bidendate inner-sphere complex. After prolonged sorption, the IR spectra indicate the formation of a second surface species showing a smaller shift compared to the aqueous species. These findings were verified by a series of spectroscopic experiments performed on a U(VI)-saturated surface, at different U(VI) concentrations, pH values and in the absence of atmospheric-derived carbonate. This work provides new molecular insights into the sorption processes of U(VI) on TiO2. Basic thermodynamic ideas of surface complexation are substantiated by in situ infrared spectroscopy. © 2012, Elsevier Ltd.
- ItemThe Sorption Processes of U(VI) onto SiO2 in the presence of phosphate: from binary surface species to precipitation(American Chemical Society, 2016-10-18) Comarmond, MJ; Steudtner, R; Stockmann, M; Heim, K; Müller, K; Brendler, V; Payne, TE; Foerstendorf, HThe ternary system containing aqueous U(VI), aqueous phosphate and solid SiO2 was comprehensively investigated using a batch sorption technique, in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy (TRLS), and surface complexation modeling (SCM). The batch sorption studies on silica gel (10 g/L) in the pH range 2.5 to 5 showed no significant increase in U(VI) uptake in the presence of phosphate at equimolar concentration of 20 μM, but significant increase in U(VI) uptake was observed for higher phosphate concentrations. In situ infrared and luminescence spectroscopic studies evidence the formation of two binary U(VI) surface species in the absence of phosphate, whereas after prolonged sorption in the presence of phosphate, the formation of a surface precipitate, most likely an autunite-like phase, is strongly suggested. From SCM, excellent fitting results were obtained exclusively considering two binary uranyl surface species and the formation of a solid uranyl phosphate phase. Ternary surface complexes were not needed to explain the data. The results of this study indicate that the sorption of U(VI) on SiO2 in the presence of inorganic phosphate initially involves binary surface-sorption species and evolves toward surface precipitation. © 2016 American Chemical Society
- ItemUranium sorption on various forms of titanium dioxide - influence of surface area, surface charge and impurities(American Chemical Society, 2011-07-01) Comarmond, MJ; Payne, TE; Harrison, JJ; Thiruvoth, S; Wong, HKY; Aughterson, RD; Lumpkin, GR; Müller, K; Foerstendorf, HTitanium dioxide (TiO(2)) has often served as a model substrate for experimental sorption studies of environmental contaminants. However, various forms of Ti-oxide have been used, and the different sorption properties of these materials have not been thoroughly studied. We investigated uranium sorption on some thoroughly characterized TiO(2) surfaces with particular attention to the influence of surface area, surface charge, and impurities. The sorption of U(VI) differed significantly between samples. Aggressive pretreatment of one material to remove impurities significantly altered the isoelectric point, determined by an electroacoustic method, but did not significantly impact U sorption. Differences in sorption properties between the various TiO(2) materials were related to the crystallographic form, morphology, surface area, and grain size, rather than to surface impurities or surface charge. In-situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopic studies showed that the spectra of the surface species of the TiO(2) samples are not significantly different, suggesting the formation of similar surface complexes. The data provide insights into the effect of different source materials and surface properties on radionuclide sorption. © 2011, American Chemical Society