Interaction of monomeric and polymeric species of metal ions with clay surfaces. I. Adsorption of iron(III) species

Abstract

Uitrafiltration or dialysis against distilled water was used to separate polymerized ferric hydroxy cations from the monomeric cations in hydrolysed solutions of ferric nitrate. Separated poly[Fe(III)-OH] cations were polydispersed and the positive charge was inversely related to molecular size. The separated poly[Fe(III)-OH] cations were found to be stable and did not condense further during a period of 6 months. The association of iron(III) with the surfaces of sodium-kaolinite, sodium-bentonite and sodiumillite was studied using hydrolysed ferric nitrate solutions and separated poly[Fe(III)-OH] cations. As the OH/Fe ratio (and pH) of the ferric nitrate solutions increased, the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) and the maximum adsorption of iron(III) increased. The amount of iron adsorbed in the form of separated po1y[Fe(III)-OH] cations was small and was related to the positive charge per iron atom of the polycations. It is proposed that iron(III) in solutions containing only polycations and solutions containing a mixture of mono- and polycations reacted differently with clay surfaces. A reaction of polycations with the surface hydroxyls leading to chemisorption and irreversible flocculation of clays is proposed.