Quantitative arsenic speciation in mine tailings using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

Polarized infrared absorption spectra of thin, oriented single-crystal slabs of pectolite and serandite were recorded between 4000 and 350 cm -1 at 298 and 83 K. The spectra of both minerals show a broad absorption region parallel to the silicate chains (b direction) that is centered around 1000 cm -1 which is interrupted by a transmission window, and which is superimposed by sharp silicate, lattice, and overtone modes. This band is assigned to the OH stretching mode consistent with the alignment of the O-H O hydrogen bond parallel to b and the short O···O distance of 2.45-2.48 Å that was found in previous X- ray structure refinements. At 1396 cm -1 (pectolite) and 1386 cm -1 (serandite) an OH bending mode is observed in the IR spectra parallel to c. At low temperatures, this mode shifts up to higher frequencies (1403 cm -1 at 83 K in pectolite). whereas the down-shift of the OH stretching mode cannot be observed due to the extremely broad band width. The slightly higher energy of the bending mode in pectolite indicates a slightly stronger hydrogen bond with respect to serandite. However, the bond length in serandite is slightly shorter than that in pectolite. An asymmetric O-H ··· O bond is confirmed in pectolite and serandite through comparison with different materials with similar, very strong hydrogen bonds and low-energy OH stretching modes.