Iron and arsenic cycling in intertidal surface sediments during wetland remediation
- Authors: Johnston, Scott , Keene, Annabelle , Burton, Edward , Bush, Richard , Sullivan, Leigh
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 45, no. 6 (2011), p. 2179-2185
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- Description: The accumulation and behavior of arsenic at the redox interface of Fe-rich sediments is strongly influenced by Fe(III) precipitate mineralogy, As speciation, and pH. In this study, we examined the behavior of Fe and As during aeration of natural groundwater from the intertidal fringe of a wetland being remediated by tidal inundation. The groundwater was initially rich in Fe 2+ (32 mmol L -1) and As (1.81 μmol L -1) with a circum-neutral pH (6.05). We explore changes in the solid/solution partitioning, speciation and mineralogy of Fe and As during long-term continuous groundwater aeration using a combination of chemical extractions, SEM, XRD, and synchrotron XAS. Initial rapid Fe 2+ oxidation led to the formation of As(III)-bearing ferrihydrite and sorption of >95% of the As(aq) within the first 4 h of aeration. Ferrihydrite transformed to schwertmannite within 23 days, although sorbed/coprecipitated As(III) remained unoxidized during this period. Schwertmannite subsequently transformed to jarosite at low pH (2-3), accompanied by oxidation of remaining Fe 2+. This coincided with a repartitioning of some sorbed As back into the aqueous phase as well as oxidation of sorbed/coprecipitated As(III) to As(V). Fe(III) precipitates formed via groundwater aeration were highly prone to reductive dissolution, thereby posing a high risk of mobilizing sorbed/coprecipitated As during any future upward migration of redox boundaries. Longer-term investigations are warranted to examine the potential pathways and magnitude of arsenic mobilization into surface waters in tidally reflooded wetlands. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
Tidally driven water column hydro-geochemistry in a remediating acidic wetland
- Authors: Johnston, Scott , Keene, Annabelle , Bush, Richard , Sullivan, Leigh , Wong, Vanessa
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Hydrology Vol. 409, no. 1-2 (2011), p. 128-139
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- Description: Managed tidal inundation is a newly evolved technique for remediating coastal acid sulphate soil (CASS) wetlands. However, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the hydro-geochemical pathways and spatiotemporal dynamics of residual H+ and metal(loid) mobilisation into the tidal fringe surface waters of these uniquely iron-rich landscapes. Here, we examine the hydrology and water column chemistry across the intertidal slope of a remediating CASS wetland during several tide cycles. There was extreme spatial and temporal dynamism in water column chemistry, with pH fluctuating by ∼3 units (∼3.5-6.5) during a single tide cycle. Acute acidity was spatially confined to the upper intertidal slope, reflecting surface sediment properties, and tidal overtopping is an important pathway for mobilisation of residual H+ and Al3+ to the water column. Marine derived HCO3- was depleted from surface waters migrating across the intertidal slope and a strong gradient in HCO3- was observed from the tidal fringe to the adjacent tributary channel and nearby estuary. Tidal forcing generated oscillating hydraulic gradients in the shallow fringing aquifer, favouring ebb-tide seepage and driving rapid, heterogeneous advection of groundwater on the lower intertidal slope via surface connected macropores. A combination of diffusive and advective flux across the sediment-water interface led to persistent, elevated surface water Fe2+ (∼10-1000μM). The geochemical processes associated with Fe2+ mobilisation displayed distinct spatial zonation, with low pH, proton-promoted desorption occurring on the upper intertidal slope, whilst circum-neutral pH, Fe(III)-reducing processes dominated the lower intertidal slope. Arsenic was also mobilised into surface waters on the lower intertidal slope under moderate pH (∼6.0) conditions and was strongly positively correlated with Fe2+. Saturation index values for aragonite were substantially depressed (-1 to -5) and significantly negatively correlated with elevation, thereby presenting a barrier to re-colonisation of the upper intertidal slope by calcifying benthic organisms. These findings highlight the spatially complex hydrological and geochemical controls on surface water quality that can occur in tidally inundated acid sulphate soil environments. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
Arsenic effects and behavior in association with the fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of schwertmannite
- Authors: Burton, Edward , Johnston, Scott , Watling, Kym , Bush, Richard , Keene, Annabelle , Sullivan, Leigh
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 44, no. 6 (2010), p. 2016-2021
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- Description: In acid-mine drainage and acid-sulfate soil environments, the cycling of Fe and As are often linked to the formation and fate of schwertmannite(Fe 8O8(OH)8-2x(SO4)x).When schwertmanniterich material is subjected to near-neutral Fe(III)-reducing conditions (e.g., in reflooded acid-sulfate soils or mining-lake sediments), the resulting Fe(II) can catalyze transformation of schwertmannite to goethite. This work examines the effects of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) on the Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of schwertmannite and investigates the associated consequences of this mineral transformation for arsenic mobilization. A series of 9-day anoxic transformation experiments were conducted with synthetic schwertmannite and various additions of Fe(II), As(III), and As(V). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy demonstrated that, in the absence of Fe(II), schwertmannite persisted as the dominant mineral phase. Under arsenic-free conditions, 10 mM Fe(II) catalyzed rapid and complete transformation of schwertmannite to goethite. However, the magnitude of Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation decreased to 72% in the presence of 1 mM As(III) and to only 6% in the presence of 1mM As(V). This partial Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of As(III)-sorbed schwertmannite did not cause considerable As(III) desorption. In contrast, the formation of goethite via partial transformation of As(III)- and As(V)-sorbed schwertmannite significantly decreased arsenic mobilization under Fe(III)-reducing conditions. This implies that the Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of schwertmannite to goethite may help to stabilize solid-phase arsenic and retard its subsequent release to groundwater. © 2010 American Chemical Society.
Arsenic mobilization in a seawater inundated acid sulfate soil
- Authors: Johnston, Scott , Keene, Annabelle , Burton, Edward , Bush, Richard , Sullivan, Leigh , McElnea, Angus , Ahern, Col , Smith, C. Douglas , Powell, Bernard , Hocking, Rosalie
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 44, no. 6 (2010), p. 1968-1973
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- Description: Tidal seawater inundation of coastal acid sulfate soils can generate Fe- and SO4-reducing conditions in previously oxicacidic sediments, This creates potential for mobilization of As during the redox transition. We explore the consequences for As by investigating the hydrology, porewater geochemistry, solid-phase speciation, and mineralogical partitioning of As across two tidal fringe toposequences. Seawater inundation induced a tidally controlled redox gradient. Maximum porewater As (∼400μg/L) occurred in the shallow (<1 m), intertidal, redox transition zone between Fe-oxidizing and SO 4-reducing conditions. Primary mechanisms of As mobilization include the reduction of solid-phase As(V) to As(III), reductive dissolution of As(V)-bearing secondary Fe(III) minerals and competitive anion desorption. Porewater As concentrations decreased in the zone of contemporary pyrite reformation, Oscillating hydraulic gradients caused by tidal pumping promote upward advection of As and Fe2+-enriched porewater in the intertidal zone, leading to accumulation of As(V)-enriched Fe(III) (hydr)oxides at the oxic sediment-water interface. While this provides a natural reactive-Fe barrier, it does not completely retard the flux of porewater As to overtopping surface waters. Furthermore, the accumulated Fe minerals may be prone to future reductive dissolution, A conceptual model describing As hydro-geochemical coupling across an intertidal fringe is presented. © 2010 American Chemical Society.
Reactive trace element enrichment in a highly modified, tidally inundated acid sulfate soil wetland : East Trinity, Australia
- Authors: Keene, Annabelle , Johnston, Scott , Bush, Richard , Burton, Edward , Sullivan, Leigh
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Marine Pollution Bulletin Vol. 60, no. 4 (2010), p. 620-626
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- Description: This study examines the abundance of trace elements in surface sediments of a former acid sulfate soil (ASS) wetland subjected to marine tidal inundation. Sediment properties of this highly modified study site are compared with those of an adjacent unmodified, intertidal mangrove forest. Whilst some trace elements (Al, Cd, Mn, Ni and Zn) were clearly depleted due to mobilisation and leaching in the previous oxic-acidic phase, other trace elements (As and Cr) displayed significant enrichment in the tidally inundated ASS. Many trace elements were strongly associated with the reactive Fe and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) fractions, suggesting that trace elements may be adsorbed to abundant reactive Fe phases or sequestered as sulfide minerals. These findings provide an important understanding of the fate and mobility of reactive iron, AVS and trace elements during tidal remediation of a formerly acidified Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.