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Per Persson. Photo.

Per Persson

Dean

Per Persson. Photo.

A contrast variation SANS and SAXS study of soil derived dissolved organic matter, and its interactions with hematite nanoparticles

Author

  • Erika Andersson
  • Viktoriia Meklesh
  • Luigi Gentile
  • Ralf Schweins
  • Olga Matsarskaia
  • Anders Tunlid
  • Per Persson
  • Ulf Olsson

Summary, in English

Soil derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important component of the carbon cycle and influences numerous biogeochemical processes, including the formation of mineral-organic associations. DOM ranges in size from small organic molecules to macromolecules and colloidal aggregates. In this study we have used small angle neutron (SANS) and X-ray (SAXS) scattering to characterize the colloidal DOM fraction from the organic layer of a boreal forest soil, and its interactions with hematite (α-Fe2O3) mineral nanoparticles. Comparison between SAXS and contrast variation SANS patterns revealed that the scattering form factor of the colloidal DOM aggregates was essentially independent of the scattering contrast, implying that the colloidal aggregates have an essentially homogeneous chemical composition, down to the nanometre length scale. Variation of the D2O/H2O ratio of the solvent yielded a SANS intensity minimum at ca. 40 ​vol % D2O, which was consistent with colloids composed of mainly polysaccharides. At pH 5.5 the pure hematite nanoparticles were colloidally stable in water and characterized by a ζ-potential of +25 ​mV and a hydrodynamic radius of ca. 70 ​nm. In the presence of DOM, the hematite nanoparticles lost the colloidal stability and aggregated into larger clusters, displaying a negative ζ-potential of ca. −25 ​mV. The charge reversal suggested that negatively charged polyanions of DOM adsorbed onto the hematite particles, possibly leading to bridging flocculation. Our results suggested that mainly low molecular weight components induced hematite aggregation because no or very limited interactions between DOM colloids and hematite were detected.

Department/s

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • MEMEG

Publishing year

2023

Language

English

Publication/Series

JCIS Open

Volume

11

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Geochemistry

Keywords

  • Contrast variation
  • Cryo-TEM
  • Dissolved organic matter
  • Hematite nanoparticles
  • Small angle neutron scattering
  • Small angle X-ray scattering

Status

Published