Intraparticulate speciation analysis of soft nanoparticulate metal complexes. The impact of electric condensation on the binding of Cd2+/Pb2+/Cu2+ by humic acids. Issue 15 (23rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Town, Raewyn M.; van Leeuwen, Herman P.
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 18:Issue 15(2016)
• Page Start: 10049
• Page End: 10058
• Publication Date: 2016-03-23
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/c6cp01229a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : The drastic role of electrostatics in the binding of metal ions by soft charged nanoparticulate humic acid complexants is demonstrated. Abstract : In aqueous dispersions of soft, charged nanoparticles, the physicochemical conditions prevailing within the particle body generally differ substantially from those in the bulk medium. Accordingly it is necessary to define intrinsic descriptors that appropriately reflect the chemical speciation inside the particle's microenvironment. Herein the speciation of divalent metal ions within the body of negatively charged soft nanoparticulate complexants is elaborated for the example case of humic acid association with Cd(ii ), Pb(ii ) and Cu(ii ). The electrostatic effects are described by a two-state model that accounts for counterion condensation in the intraparticulate double layer shell at the particle/medium interface and Donnan partitioning within the bulk of the particle body. Inner-sphere complex formation is defined by an intrinsic binding constant expressed in terms of local reactant concentrations as controlled by the pertinent electrostatic conditions. For the high particle charge density case (Debye length smaller than charged site separation), three distinct intraparticulate metal species are identified, namely free hydrated ions, electrostatically condensed ions, and inner-sphere metal–humic complexes. For all metal ions studied, the electrostatic contribution to the association of the metal ion with the oppositely charged particle is found to account for a substantial fraction of the total metal bound.