Lepidocrocite

Abstract: Hematite (α-Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), wustite (FeO), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), goethite (α-FeOOH), lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and δ-FeOOH were studied by Raman microscopy. Such compounds have already been studied by Raman spectroscopy, but there are some disagreements in the reported data. Here, Raman microscopy was employed to investigate the laser power dependence of the spectra of these oxides and oxyhydroxides. Low laser power was used for the reference spectra in order to minimize the risks of spectral changes due to sample degradation. The results obtained show that increasing laser power causes the characteristic bands of hematite to show up in the spectra of most of the compounds studied whereas the hematite spectrum undergoes band broadening and band shifts. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract: Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) was synthesized and tested for the removal of As(III), which is a highly toxic, mobile, and predominant arsenic species in anoxic groundwater. We used SEM-EDX, AFM, and XRD to characterize particle size, surface morphology, and corrosion layers formed on pristine NZVI and As(III)-treated NZVI. AFM results showed that particle size ranged from 1 to 120 nm. XRD and SEM results revealed that NZVI gradually converted to magnetite/maghemite corrosion products mixed with lepidocrocite over 60 d. Arsenic(III) adsorption kinetics were rapid and occurred on a scale of minutes following a pseudo-first-order rate expression with observed reaction rate constants (kobs) of 0.07−1.3 min-1 (at varied NZVI concentration). These values are about 1000× higher than kobs literature values for As(III) adsorption on micron size ZVI. Batch experiments were performed to determine the feasibility of NZVI as an adsorbent for As(III) treatment in groundwater as affected by initial As(III) concentra...

Abstract: SUMMARY Raman spectroscopy uses the inelastic scattering of electromagnetic radiation by molecules. Monochromatic light of a laser interacts with phonons, the vibrational modes in the crystal lattice. The energy of the scattered light is shifted by the scattering. The shifts in energy yield the Raman spectrum that is specific for each mineral because the phonons are specific for each mineral. In this study, Raman spectroscopy of synthetic and natural iron (oxy)hydroxides and iron oxides was performed to test its potential in environmental magnetic studies and soil science. The main aim was to distinguish between the different iron oxides occurring in soils. Most of them can be identified by magnetic methods, but there are some minerals that are not easy to differentiate from each other. In these cases, the magnetic methods can be complemented by Raman spectroscopy. A major challenge is the fast transformation of many iron minerals if laser power is applied, especially if the material is poorly crystallized as often is the case in environmental material. In this study, very low laser powers were applied. Nevertheless, the investigated iron minerals could be distinguished from each other. Thus, a magnetic method to discern lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite in soil samples could be corroborated. It is also shown that Raman spectroscopy is an easy method to distinguish magnetite and maghemite. Due to the low laser powers applied, a wuestite band at about 595 cm −1 could be established enabling a non-ambiguous identification of this mineral by its Raman spectrum. Furthermore, the potential of the method to investigate magnetic material produced by soil bacteria is demonstrated.