Effect of pH on interaction between As(III) or As(V) and manganese(IV) oxide

The efficiency of As(III) oxidation by MnO₂, and retention of oxidation products varies with system pH. Maximum retention by hydrous Mn(IV) oxide occurs at pH < 5, declining at higher pH to about half total As at pH 10. The adsorption capacities of pyrolusite and cryptomelane at pH ～6.5 for As(V) species were 10 and 25 mmol kg^?1, respectively. HMO surface saturation (～10 mmol kg^?1) was reached with equilibrium As(V) levels of 5 to 8 × 10^?6 M but this was supplemented at higher levels by an absorption process where uptake increased linearly with concentration (e.g., 68 mmol kg^?1 with 2 × 10^?5 M As(V)). Added As(III) was avidly oxidized and most product retained at pH 3. At higher pH increasing amounts of As(III) remained unoxidized due to initial reactions apparently blocking access to internal pores. Added Na⁺ reduced the amount of As retained by the HMO, with the phosphate salt having a significant effect. Extraction studies confirmed that most As could be released by exposure to reducing agents or chelating agents (EDTA). The environmental significance of the results has been considered.