Monitoring trace amounts of lead and arsenic adsorption by x-ray absorption fine structure combined with fluorescence spectrometry

X-ray absorption fine structure combined with fluorescence spectrometry was used for the speciation of trace amounts of lead and arsenic adsorbed. The Pb2+ species were effectively adsorbed on a layered material Mg6Fe2(OH)16(CO3)·3H2O from 100 ppb–1.0 ppm test aqueous solutions. A eutectic mixture of PbCO3 and Pb(OH)2 coagulated in the case of a 1.0 ppm Pb2+ solution, and in contrast, the major species was ion-exchanged Pb2+ in the case of the adsorption from the 100 ppb aqueous solution. The arsenic species were effectively adsorbed on intercalated Fe-montmorillonite from 50 ppb–16 ppm test aqueous solutions. In this concentration range, As3+ in the solution was oxidized upon adsorption. The adsorbed structure was suggested to be [AsV(OH)2(μ-OFe)2] both in the cases of adsorption of As3+ and As5+.