Abstract:
We measured the adsorption of Cu(II) onto kaolinite from pH 3–7 at constant ionic strength. EXAFS spectra show that Cu(II) adsorbs as (CuO4Hn)n−6 and binuclear (Cu2O6Hn)n−8 inner-sphere complexes on variable-charge ≡AlOH sites and as Cu2+ on ion exchangeable ≡X--H+ sites. Sorption isotherms and EXAFS spectra show that surface precipitates have not formed at least up to pH 6.5. Inner-sphere complexes are bound to the kaolinite surface by corner-sharing with two or three edge-sharing Al(O,OH)6 polyhedra. Our interpretation of the EXAFS data are supported by ab initio (density functional theory) geometries of analog clusters simulating Cu complexes on the {110} and {010} crystal edges and at the ditrigonal cavity sites on the {001}. Having identified the bidentate (≡AlOH)2Cu(OH)20, tridentate (≡Al3O(OH)2)Cu2(OH)30 and ≡X--Cu2+ surface complexes, the experimental copper(II) adsorption data can be fit to the reactions and (A1)≡X−--H++Cu2+=≡X−--Cu2++X+.
