scholarly journals Mineral Surfaces, Geochemical Complexities, and the Origins of Life

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. a002162-a002162 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Hazen ◽  
D. A. Sverjensky
Keyword(s):  
Origins Of Life ◽  
Mineral Surfaces

Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Bacteria on Mineral Surfaces

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 130-131
Author(s):  
V.K. Berry
Keyword(s):  
Oxidation Reaction ◽  
Electron Microscope Study ◽  
Elemental Sulfur ◽  
Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Metal Sulfides ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Mineral Surfaces ◽  
Mineral Surface ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscope Study

There are two strains of bacteria viz. Thiobacillus thiooxidansand Thiobacillus ferrooxidanswidely mentioned to play an important role in the leaching process of low-grade ores. Another strain used in this study is a thermophile and is designated Caldariella .These microorganisms are acidophilic chemosynthetic aerobic autotrophs and are capable of oxidizing many metal sulfides and elemental sulfur to sulfates and Fe2+ to Fe3+. The necessity of physical contact or attachment by bacteria to mineral surfaces during oxidation reaction has not been fairly established so far. Temple and Koehler reported that during oxidation of marcasite T. thiooxidanswere found concentrated on mineral surface. Schaeffer, et al. demonstrated that physical contact or attachment is essential for oxidation of sulfur.

Chemical evolution of interstellar dust, comets and the origins of life

1989 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mayo Greenberg ◽  
Nansheng Zhao ◽  
Joniek Hage
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
Interstellar Dust ◽  
Origins Of Life

QM/MM Simulations of Organic Phosphorus Adsorption at the Diaspore-Water Interface

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasanth Babu Ganta ◽  
Oliver Kühn ◽  
Ashour Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Interaction Energy ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Hydroxyl Groups ◽  
Water Interface ◽  
Mineral Surfaces ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Phosphorus Adsorption ◽  
Covalent Bonds ◽  
Binding Mechanisms

The phosphorus (P) immobilization and thus its availability for plants are mainly affected by the strong interaction of phosphates with soil components especially soil mineral surfaces. Related reactions have been studied extensively via sorption experiments especially by carrying out adsorption of ortho-phosphate onto Fe-oxide surfaces. But a molecular-level understanding for the P-binding mechanisms at the mineral-water interface is still lacking, especially for forest eco-systems. Therefore, the current contribution provides an investigation of the molecular binding mechanisms for two abundant phosphates in forest soils, inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) and glycerolphosphate (GP), at the diaspore mineral surface. Here a hybrid electrostatic embedding quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) based molecular dynamics simulation has been applied to explore the diaspore-IHP/GP-water interactions. The results provide evidence for the formation of different P-diaspore binding motifs involving monodentate (M) and bidentate (B) for GP and two (2M) as well as three (3M) monodentate for IHP. The interaction energy results indicated the abundance of the GP B motif compared to the M one. The IHP 3M motif has a higher total interaction energy compared to its 2M motif, but exhibits a lower interaction energy per bond. Compared to GP, IHP exhibited stronger interaction with the surface as well as with water. Water was found to play an important role in controlling these diaspore-IHP/GP-water interactions. The interfacial water molecules form moderately strong H-bonds (HBs) with GP and IHP as well as with the diaspore surface. For all the diaspore-IHP/GP-water complexes, the interaction of water with diaspore exceeds that with the studied phosphates. Furthermore, some water molecules form covalent bonds with diaspore Al atoms while others dissociate at the surface to protons and hydroxyl groups leading to proton transfer processes. Finally, the current results confirm previous experimental conclusions indicating the importance of the number of phosphate groups, HBs, and proton transfers in controlling the P-binding at soil mineral surfaces.

scholarly journals Effect of pedogenic iron-oxyhydroxide removal on the metal sorption by soil clay minerals

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1785-1799
Author(s):  
Péter Sipos ◽  
Viktória Kovács Kis ◽  
Réka Balázs ◽  
Adrienn Tóth ◽  
Tibor Németh
Keyword(s):  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Direct Analysis ◽  
Alkaline Soil ◽  
Mineral Surfaces ◽  
Iron Oxyhydroxide ◽  
Metal Sorption ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fe Oxyhydroxides ◽  
Cu And Zn

Abstract Purpose The close association of Fe-oxyhydroxides and clay minerals might influence the sorption properties of these components. We aimed to study the effect of removing the pedogenic Fe-oxyhydroxides on the sorption of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn by the clay mineral particles in soils with contrasting pH. Methods Competitive batch sorption experiments before and after Fe-oxyhydroxide extraction in soils were carried out together with the direct analysis of the metal sorption on individual particles of ferrihydrite, smectite, and illite/smectite by TEM. Results Ferrihydrite was a more effective metal sorbent than clay minerals, although its removal resulted in decreased sorption only for Cd, Cu, and Zn. Ferrhydrite coating blocked metals’ access for certain sorption sites on clay surfaces, which were only accessible for Pb as the most efficient competitor after removing the coating. This observation was the most remarkable for the smectite particles in the alkaline soil. Mineral surfaces sorbed higher Cu than Pb concentrations and higher Zn than Cd concentrations despite the former metals’ lower bulk sorption. Thus, organic surfaces and precipitation contributed to Pb and Cd’s retention to a greater extent than for Cu and Zn. The structural Fe of smectite also promoted the metal sorption in both soils. Conclusion Removal of iron-oxyhydroxide coatings from the soil affects metal sorption selectively. Direct study of metal sorption on individual soil particles enables us to gain a more in-depth insight into soil minerals’ role in this process.

scholarly journals Sorption and Desorption of Vanadate, Arsenate and Chromate by Two Volcanic Soils of Equatorial Africa

Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Sara Gonzalez-Rodriguez ◽  
Maria Luisa Fernandez-Marcos
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Sorption Isotherms ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Mineral Surfaces ◽  
Volcanic Soils ◽  
Iron Species ◽  
Freundlich Model ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Icp Mass Spectrometry

Sorption of oxyanions by soils and mineral surfaces is of interest due to their role as nutrients or pollutants. Volcanic soils are variable charge soils, rich in active forms of aluminum and iron, and capable of sorbing anions. Sorption and desorption of vanadate, arsenate, and chromate by two African andosols was studied in laboratory experiments. Sorption isotherms were determined by equilibrating at 293 K soil samples with oxyanion solutions of concentrations between 0 and 100 mg L−1 V, As, or Cr, equivalent to 0−2.0 mmol V L−1, 0−1.3 mmol As L−1, and 0−1.9 mmol Cr L−1, in NaNO3; V, As, or Cr were determined by ICP-mass spectrometry in the equilibrium solution. After sorption, the soil samples were equilibrated with 0.02 M NaNO3 to study desorption. The isotherms were adjusted to mathematical models. After desorption with NaNO3, desorption experiments were carried out with a 1 mM phosphate. The sorption of vanadate and arsenate was greater than 90% of the amount added, while the chromate sorption was much lower (19–97%). The sorption by the Silandic Andosol is attributed to non-crystalline Fe and Al, while in the Vitric Andosol, crystalline iron species play a relevant role. The V and Cr sorption isotherms fitted to the Freundlich model, while the As sorption isotherms conformed to the Temkin model. For the highest concentrations of oxyanions in the equilibrating solution, the sorbed concentrations were 37–38 mmol V kg−1, 25 mmol As kg−1, and 7.2–8.8 mmol Cr kg−1. The desorption was low for V and As and high for Cr. The comparison of the sorption and desorption isotherms reveals a pronounced hysteresis for V in both andosols and for Cr in the Silandic Andosol. Phosphate induced almost no V desorption, moderate As desorption, and considerable Cr desorption.

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