Elucidation of desferrioxamine B on the liberation of chromium from schwertmannite

Schwertmannite is a ferric oxyhydroxy-sulfate mineral, which is commonly found in acid sulfate systems. In this study, the liberation of chromium from Cr(VI)-substituted schwertmannite in the presence of the siderophore desferrioxamine B was studied. In addition, mineral transformation was examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Based on solid phase analyses, the transformation of schwertmannite incubated at pH 6.5 in the presence of 100 mg/L desferrioxamine B proceeded through a ligand-reductive induced pathway that released dissolved sulfate, Fe(III), and Cr(III), and generated goethite . Results of XAFS showed that CrO 4 2− substituted for SO 4 2− in the schwertmannite framework. Kinetic analysis using the Kabai and shrinking core models showed that Cr suppressed the transformation of schwertmannite into goethite and the liberation of Cr was controlled by diffusion through the secondary mineral's layer of dissolution. The information provided in this study will be useful in predicting the effects of the interaction between dissolved organic matter and minerals on the mobilization of Cr in acid mine drainage systems.