Spectroscopic Investigations of Arsenic Species in Solid Phases

Abstract

Many of the important chemical reactions controlling arsenic partitioning between solid and liquid phases in aquifers occur at particle-water interfaces. Several spectroscopic methods exist to monitor the electronic, vibrational, and other properties of atoms or molecules localized in the interfacial region. These methods provide information on valence, local coordination, protonation, and other properties that is difficult to obtain by other means. This chapter synthesizes recent infrared, x-ray photoelectron, and x-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of arsenic speciation in natural and synthetic solid phases. The local coordination of arsenic in sulfide minerals, in arsenate and arsenite precipitates, in secondary sulfates and carbonates, adsorbed on iron, manganese, and aluminium hydrous oxides, and adsorbed on aluminosilicate clay minerals is summarized. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of these studies (conducted primarily in model systems) for arsenic speciation in aquifer sediments.