The ecological risk of pollutants is closely related to their environmental behaviors. A research team led by Prof. FAN Qiaohui from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted an in-depth study on the transformation process of As(III) at the surface of birnessite. 

Researchers focused on semiconductor minerals with photoactive properties, revealing the important influence of such mineral on the chemical states of elements, subsequent transformation, migration, and environmental fate. 

This study was published in npj Clean Water.  

The study found that As(III) is chemically oxidized to As(V) by birnessite in darkness, while Mn(IV) is reduced to Mn(II). The reaction process also induces the formation of manganite (MnOOH). Due to MnOOH covers the reaction sites, it inhibits further oxidation of As(III). After 6 hours of reaction in the dark, about 60% of As(III) is oxidized to As(V).  

In addition, the study also found that the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III) is significantly enhanced compared with chemical oxidation, and almost all of the As(III) is oxidized to As(V) by photo-generated holes and O₂^- radicals. It is worth noting that, unlike chemical oxidation, MnOOH slightly affects the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III).  

The research team further used natural manganite ore as photocatalyst and obtained the same results. “This result shows that natural manganite ores have a significant effect on the environmental behavior arsenic,” said Prof. FAN, “This discovery provides important theoretical basis and experimental data for us to understand and control arsenic pollution.” 

Contact:   

FAN Qiaohui 

e-mail: fanqh@lzb.ac.cn