Evidence for the aquatic binding of arsenate by natural organic matter-suspended Fe(III)

Dialysis experiments with arsenate and three different NOM samples amended with Fe(III) showed evidence confirming the formation of aquatic arsenate-Fe(III)-NOM associations. A linear relationship was observed between the amount of complexed arsenate and the Fe(III) content of the NOM. The dialysis results were consistent with complex formation through ferric iron cations acting as bridges between the negatively charged arsenate and NOM functional groups and/or a more colloidal association, in which the arsenate is bound by suspended Fe(III)-NOM colloids. Sequential filtration experiments confirmed that a significant proportion of the iron present at all Fe/C ratios used in the dialysis experiments was colloidal in nature. These colloids may include larger NOM species that are coagulated by the presence of chelated Fe(III) and/or NOM-stabilized ferric (oxy)hydroxide colloids, and thus, the solution-phase arsenate-Fe(III)-NOM associations are at least partially colloidal in nature.