Denis Testemale

Experimental study of arsenic speciation in vapor phase to 500°C: implications for As transport and fractionation in low-density crustal fluids and volcanic gases

Abstract The stoichiometry and stability of arsenic gaseous complexes were determined in the system As-H2O ± NaCl ± HCl ± H2S at temperatures up to 500°C and pressures up to 600 bar, from both measurements of As(III) and As(V) vapor–liquid and vapor–solid partitioning, and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic study of As(III)-bearing aqueous fluids. Vapor–aqueous solution partitioning for As(III) was measured from 250 to 450°C at the saturated vapor pressure of the system (Psat) with a special titanium reactor that allows in situ sampling of the vapor phase. The values of partition coefficients for arsenious acid (H3AsO3) between an aqueous solution (pure H2O) and its saturated vapor (K = mAsvapor /mAsliquid) were found to be independent of As(III) solution concentrations (up to ∼1 to 2 mol As/kg) and equal to 0.012 ± 0.003, 0.063 ± 0.023, and 0.145 ± 0.020 at 250, 300, and 350°C, respectively. These results are interpreted by the formation, in the vapor phase, of As(OH)3(gas), similar to the aqueous As hydroxide complex dominant in the liquid phase. Arsenic chloride or sulfide gaseous complexes were found to be negligible in the presence of HCl or H2S (up to ∼0.5 mol/kg of vapor). XAFS spectroscopic measurements carried out on As(III)-H2O (±NaCl) solutions up to 500°C demonstrate that the As(OH)3 complex dominates As speciation both in dense H2O-NaCl fluids and low-density supercritical vapor. Vapor–liquid partition coefficients for As(III) measured in the H2O-NaCl system up to 450°C are consistent with the As speciation derived from these spectroscopic measurements and can be described by a simple relationship as a function of the vapor-to-liquid density ratio and temperature. Arsenic(III) partitioning between vapor and As-concentrated solutions (>2 mol As/kg) or As2O3 solid is consistent with the formation, in the vapor phase, of both As4O6 and As(OH)3. Arsenic(V) (arsenic acid, H3AsO4) vapor–liquid partitioning at 350°C for dilute aqueous solution was interpreted by the formation of AsO(OH)3 in the vapor phase. The results obtained were combined with the corresponding properties for the aqueous As(III) hydroxide species to generate As(OH)3(gas) thermodynamic parameters. Equilibrium calculations carried out by using these data indicate that As(OH)3(gas) is by far the most dominant As complex in both volcanic gases and boiling hydrothermal systems. This species is likely to be responsible for the preferential partition of arsenic into the vapor phase as observed in fluid inclusions from high-temperature (400 to 700°C) Au-Cu (-Sn, -W) magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits. The results of this study imply that hydrolysis and hydration could be also important for other metals and metalloids in the H2O-vapor phase. These processes should be taken into account to accurately model element fractionation and chemical equilibria during magma degassing and fluid boiling.

High pressure/high temperature cell for x-ray absorption and scattering techniques

A high pressure/high temperature cell dedicated to x-ray absorption spectroscopy, small angle x-ray scattering, and inelastic x-ray scattering techniques is presented. The P and T parameters are controlled independently and their range allow the study of aqueous solutions (T⩽500°C and P⩽2000bar) and liquid metals and glasses (T⩽1700°C and P⩽2000bar). The autoclave technology is inspired from previous high pressure/high temperature equipments but great improvements are achieved. Original high pressure windows have been developed to ensure both pressure resistance and low absorbance combined with large angular aperture. Different configurations are available for the internal cell that contains the sample whether it is aqueous or not. As an example of the efficiency of the set-up, we present preliminary x-ray absorption results on 0.01 m FeCl3 aqueous solutions from ambient to supercritical conditions (375 °C and 300 bar). These low concentrations samples and low energy spectra (Fe K-edge is at 7112 eV) repr...

Spectroscopic characterization of microscopic hydrogen-bonding disparities in supercritical water

The local hydrogen-bonding environment in supercritical water (380 degrees C, 300 bars, density 0.54 gcm3) was studied by x-ray Raman scattering at the oxygen K edge. The spectra are compared to those of the gas phase, liquid surface, bulk liquid, and bulk ice, as well as to calculated spectra. The experimental model systems are used to assign spectral features and to quantify specific local hydrogen-bonding situations in supercritical water. The first coordination shell of the molecules is characterized in more detail with the aid of the calculations. Our analysis suggests that approximately 65% of the molecules in supercritical water are hydrogen bonded in configurations that are distinctly different from those in liquid water and ice. In contrast to liquid water the bonded molecules in supercritical water have four intact hydrogen bonds and in contrast to ice large variations of bond angles and distances are observed. The remaining approximately 35% of the molecules exhibit two free O-H bonds and are thus either not involved in hydrogen bonding at all or have one or two hydrogen bonds on the oxygen side. We determine an average O-O distance of 3.1+/-0.1 A in supercritical water for the H bonded molecules at the conditions studied here. This and the corresponding hydrogen bond lengths are shown to agree with neutron- and x-ray-diffraction data at similar conditions. Our results on the local hydrogen-bonding environment with mainly two disparate hydrogen-bonding configurations are consistent with an extended structural model of supercritical water as a heterogeneous system with small patches of bonded molecules in various tetrahedral configurations and surrounding nonbonded gas-phase-like molecules.

Structural and electronic evolution of the As(OH)3 molecule in high temperature aqueous solutions: An x-ray absorption investigation

The geometrical and electronic structure of the arsenious acid molecule As(OH)(3) in aqueous solutions has been investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) within extended x-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), using realistic first-principle calculations in the latter case. This investigation was performed on aqueous solutions of arsenious acid from ambient to supercritical conditions (P = 250 and 600 bars, T <or= 500 degrees C) using a new optical cell. The analysis of the XAS spectra is consistent with (1) a constant As-O distance, (2) an opening of the O-As-O angles within the C(3V) pyramidal structure in the range 30-200 degrees C. This structural evolution comes along with a small decrease of the partial charges of the atoms in the As(OH)(3) molecule. The explanation invoked for both structural and electronic modifications observed is the weakening of the interactions, through hydrogen bonds, between the As(OH)(3) complex and water molecules. This is a fingerprint of the similar weakening of hydrogen bonding interactions in the solvent itself.

Sulfur radical species form gold deposits on Earth

Significance Gold resources on Earth result from an exceptional concentration phenomenon yielding metal contents in ore a thousand to a million times higher than those in common rocks. We show that this process is controlled by sulfur radical ions (S3−), which strongly bind Au in aqueous solution at elevated temperatures and pressures and allow very efficient extraction, transport, and deposition of gold by geological fluids. Thus, the most inert metal of the periodic table may be very mobile, which explains key features of known gold deposits and offers new possibilities for resource prospecting. Furthermore, the high capacity of the radical ions to solubilize gold may be used for its selective extraction from ores and hydrothermal synthesis of Au-based nanomaterials. Current models of the formation and distribution of gold deposits on Earth are based on the long-standing paradigm that hydrogen sulfide and chloride are the ligands responsible for gold mobilization and precipitation by fluids across the lithosphere. Here we challenge this view by demonstrating, using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and solubility measurements, coupled with molecular dynamics and thermodynamic simulations, that sulfur radical species, such as the trisulfur ion S3−, form very stable and soluble complexes with Au+ in aqueous solution at elevated temperatures (>250 °C) and pressures (>100 bar). These species enable extraction, transport, and focused precipitation of gold by sulfur-rich fluids 10–100 times more efficiently than sulfide and chloride only. As a result, S3− exerts an important control on the source, concentration, and distribution of gold in its major economic deposits from magmatic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic settings. The growth and decay of S3− during the fluid generation and evolution is one of the key factors that determine the fate of gold in the lithosphere.

High-resolution spectroscopy on an X-ray absorption beamline

A bent-crystal spectrometer based on the Rowland circle geometry has been installed and tested on the BM30b/FAME beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility to improve its performances. The energy resolution of the spectrometer allows different kinds of measurements to be performed, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray Raman scattering experiments. The simplicity of the experimental device makes it easily implemented on a classical X-ray absorption beamline. This improvement in the fluorescence detection is of particular importance when the probed element is embedded in a complex and/or heavy matrix, for example in environmental sciences.

Arsenic speciation in fluid inclusions using micro-beam X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) was used to characterize As speciation within natural fluid inclusions from three deposits with different hydrogeochemical and geological settings. The studied samples represent different compositions of Au-bearing fluids: typical orogenic Au deposit (low-salinity, ~6 mol% CO2 ± CH4; Brusson, Western Italian Alps); brines from a Proterozoic (Fe)- Cu-Au deposit (Starra, Queensland, Australia); and an As-rich magmatic fluid with a bulk composition similar to that typical of orogenic gold (Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique). Arsenic K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) were obtained from fluid inclusions at temperatures ranging from 25 to 200°C, and compared with spectra of aqueous As(III) and As(V) solutions and minerals. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) data show that initially the fluid inclusions from all three regions contain some As in reduced form [As(III) at Brusson and Muiane; As-sulfide or possibly As(0) at Starra]. However, this reduced As is readily oxidized under the beam to As(V). Therefore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra for the As(III) aqueous complex could be collected only on the sample from the Muiane pegmatite containing large fluid inclusions with high As concentrations (>>1000 ppm). Analysis of these EXAFS data shows that As(OH)3(aq) (coordination number of 3.0 ± 0.2 atoms, bond length of 1.76 ± 0.01 Å) is the dominant arsenic aqueous species in the Muiane fluid inclusions at 100 °C, in accordance with predictions based on studies conducted using autoclaves. The As(V) complex resulting from photooxidation in the Muiane inclusions was characterized at 200 °C; the As-O bond distance (1.711 ± 0.025 Å) corresponds to that found in the arsenate group in minerals, and to that measured for the (HAsO4)2- complex at room temperature (1.700 ± 0.023 Å). The extent of the XAS information that could be obtained for As in this study was limited by the rapid photooxidation that occurred in all inclusions, despite the relatively low photon flux density used (~4.4 × 106 photons/s/μm2). Photosensitivity was not observed in autoclave experiments and is the result of a complex interaction between redox-sensitive complexes in solution and the products of water radiolysis generated by the beam. Even under such challenging experimental conditions, the information gathered provides some precious information about As chemistry in ore-forming fluids

Hydrogen bonding and coordination in normal and supercritical water from x-ray inelastic scattering

A direct measure of hydrogen bonding in water under conditions ranging from the normal state to the supercritical regime is derived from first-principles calculations for the Compton scattering of inelastically scattered x rays. First, we show that a measure of the number of electrons n(e) involved in hydrogen bonding at varying thermodynamic conditions can be directly obtained from Compton profile differences. Then, we use first-principles simulations to provide a connection between n(e) and the number of hydrogen bonds n(HB). Our study shows that over the broad range studied, the relationship between n(e) and n(HB) is linear, allowing for a direct measure of bonding and coordination in water by coupling simulations with experiments. In particular, the transition to supercritical state is characterized by a sharp increase in the number of water monomers but also displays a significant number of residual dimers and trimers.

Evidence of various mechanisms of Cd sequestration in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri, the non-accumulator Arabidopsis lyrata, and their progenies by combined synchrotron-based techniques

Arabidopsis halleri is a model plant for Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the chemical forms of Cd, its distribution in leaves, and Cd accumulation and tolerance. An interspecific cross was carried out between A. halleri and the non-tolerant and non-hyperaccumulating relative A. lyrata providing progenies segregating for Cd tolerance and accumulation. Cd speciation and distribution were investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microfocused X-ray fluorescence. In A. lyrata and non-tolerant progenies, Cd was coordinated by S atoms only or with a small contribution of O groups. Interestingly, the proportion of O ligands increased in A. halleri and tolerant progenies, and they were predominant in most of them, while S ligands were still present. Therefore, the binding of Cd with O ligands was associated with Cd tolerance. In A. halleri, Cd was mainly located in the xylem, phloem, and mesophyll tissue, suggesting a reallocation process for Cd within the plant. The distribution of the metal at the cell level was further discussed. In A. lyrata, the vascular bundles were also Cd enriched, but the epidermis was richer in Cd as compared with the mesophyll. Cd was identified in trichomes of both species. This work demonstrated that both Cd speciation and localization were related to the tolerance character of the plant.

High energy resolution five-crystal spectrometer for high quality fluorescence and absorption measurements on an x-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline

Fluorescence detection is classically achieved with a solid state detector (SSD) on x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) beamlines. This kind of detection however presents some limitations related to the limited energy resolution and saturation. Crystal analyzer spectrometers (CAS) based on a Johann-type geometry have been developed to overcome these limitations. We have tested and installed such a system on the BM30B/CRG-FAME XAS beamline at the ESRF dedicated to the structural investigation of very dilute systems in environmental, material and biological sciences. The spectrometer has been designed to be a mobile device for easy integration in multi-purpose hard x-ray synchrotron beamlines or even with a laboratory x-ray source. The CAS allows to collect x-ray photons from a large solid angle with five spherically bent crystals. It will cover a large energy range allowing to probe fluorescence lines characteristic of all the elements from Ca (Z = 20) to U (Z = 92). It provides an energy resolution of 1-2 eV. XAS spectroscopy is the main application of this device even if other spectroscopic techniques (RIXS, XES, XRS, etc.) can be also achieved with it. The performances of the CAS are illustrated by two experiments that are difficult or impossible to perform with SSD and the complementarity of the CAS vs SSD detectors is discussed.