Mineral-water interface transformation reactions

This book deals only with the chemistry of the mineral-water interface, and so at first glance, the book might appear to have a relatively narrow focus. However, the range of chemical and physical processes considered is actually quite broad, and the general and comprehensive nature of the topics makes this volume unique. The technical papers are organized into physical properties of the mineral-water interface adsorption ion exchange surface spectroscopy dissolution, precipitation, and solid solution formation and transformation reactions at the mineral-water interface. The introductory chapter presents an overview of recent research advances in each of these six areas and discusses important features of each technical paper. Several papers address the complex ways in which some processes are interrelated, for example, the effect of adsorption reactions on the catalysis of electron transfer reactions by mineral surfaces. 

Additional Transformation Reactions. Other reactions that can be catalyzed by mineral surfaces are substitution, elimination, and addition reactions of organic molecules. Substitution and elimination are two general types of reactions that occur at saturated carbon atoms of organic molecules. Both types are initiated by nucleophilic attack however, in elimination reactions it is the basicity of the nucleophile that determine its reactivity rather than its nucleophilicity. Since mineral surfaces are expected to have both nucleophilic and basic properties, these types of reactions should also occur at mineral-water interfaces (see Chapter 22). It remains to be shown whether or not these reactions are catalyzed under environmental conditions. 

Photolysis. Photolysis of a chemical can proceed either by direct absorption of light (direct photolysis) or by reaction with another chemical species that has been produced or excited by light (indirect photolysis). In either case photochemical transformations such as bond cleavage, isomerization, intramolecular rearrangement, and various inter-molecular reactions can result. Photolysis can take place wherever sufficient light energy exists, including the atmosphere (in the gas phase and in aerosols and fog/cloud droplets), surface waters (in the dissolved phase or at the particle-water interface), and in the terrestrial environment (on plant and soil/mineral surfaces). 

This bacterial production occurs in the pore fluids of sediments and in stagnant basins (seas, lakes, rivers and fiords). At the interface between anoxic and oxic waters the H2S can be oxidized. This oxidation is frequently coupled to changes in the redox state of metals (1.2) and non-metals (2). Another major interest in the H-jS system comes from an attempt to understand the authigenic production of sulfide minerals as a result of biological or submarine hydrothermal activity and the transformation and disappearance of these minerals due to oxidation (4). For example, hydrothermally produced H2S can react with iron to form pyrite, the overall reaction given by... 

Applications of redox reactions on mineral surfaces in areas such as water treatment have been reviewed by Segal and Sellers (1984) Voudrias and Reinhard (1986) discussed the organic transformations at the solid-liquid interface. Here the discussion is confined to selected inorganic redox reactions. Table 1 lists some of the more important heterogeneous processes of inorganic... 

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