Investigations of the Influence of Solution Chemistry on YREE Interactions with Particle Surfaces

University Of South Florida, Tampa FL

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT OCE-0136333 Adsorption and solution complexation exert important controls on the fluxes and distributions of trace metals in the oceans. However, to understand metal ion adsorptive behavior requires that the solution chemistry be well characterized. Considering that yttrium and the rare earth elements (YREEs) have solution chemistries that are known and are influenced by the same processes that influence other metals in seawater makes them ideally suited to studies of metal ion adsorptive behavior. For this reason, two PIs from the University of South Florida propose to carry out a series of laboratory experiments to determine the adsorption characteristics of YREEs as a function of particle type and solution chemistry. For particle type, the PIs plan to utilize -MnO2, a-FeOOH, a-Al2O3, amorphous SiO2, calcite, aragonite, Ulva lactuca (living/non-living algae) and natural suspended matter collected in the Gulf of Mexico. The study will use both synthetic solutions and natural seawater. Results from this research will provide an improved understanding of processes that exert dominant control on the distribution of reactive metals in seawater.