Mineralogical Sinks for Antimony in Highly Contaminated Soils

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Reto Gieré
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 47203280

Antimony and its compounds are pollutants of priority interest. Yet, little is known about the geochemical cycle of Sb. Here, we propose to study the minerals which act as sorbents of Sb in surficial environments (soils, sediments). The proposed project consists of two major components: a field-based mineralogical study and an experimental part. In the field-based study, we will investigate samples from selected shooting ranges where large amounts of Sb were introduced into the soils from spent ammunition. Our preliminary results show that the corroded iron jackets of the bullets act as an imperfect barrier for Sb. We will further study the corroding bullets and identify the principal sinks of Sb in the soil by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and Raman spectroscopy. Within the experimental part, we will prepare a set of synthetic samples that mimic the natural conditions. These are poorly crystalline Fe oxides enriched in Sb. These samples will be investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in order to determine the molecular structure of the Sb complexes on the surfaces of Fe oxide minerals. By synthesis of the results from the field-based mineralogical and the experimental part, we will be able to understand and predict the behavior of Sb in polluted soils. The results of the proposed project will build a link between the processes observed at the polluted sites and the microscopic structural information.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Juraj Majzlan, Ph.D.