Photoreductive dissolution of colloidal iron oxide: Effect of citrate

T. David Waite, Francois M. M. Morel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

151 Scopus citations

Abstract

The light-induced dissolution of the iron oxide, lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), has been investigated and found to be greatly enhanced in the presence of citrate. A conceptual model of the dissolution process is presented and validated through studies of citrate adsorption to lepidocrocite, net iron oxide dissolution under a variety of conditions, and solution phase redox reactions. The initial dissolution rate is directly related to the concentration of the surface bound ferric citrate and the first order rate constant for the photodissolution process is very similar to that found for the photodissociation of soluble ferric citrate. Dissolution most likely occurs through direct excitation of charge transfer bands of the surface bound ferric citrate. At low pH (pH 4.0), a constant rate of dissolution is observed while at higher pH (pH 6.5 and 8.2), the dissolution rate decreases on continued photolysis. This decrease is due to (1) an oxygen-dependent deactivation process occurring at the surface and (2) loss of photo-produced iron from solution by "ligand-like" adsorption of soluble iron citrate complexes by the colloidal iron oxide. Superimposed on the dissolution process at these higher pH is a rapid oxidation-reduction cycle involving solution phase iron species with the reduction step induced by photodissociation of ferric citrate complexes and the oxidation step controlled by the formation of ferrous citrate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-137
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Colloid And Interface Science
Volume102
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1984

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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