Nickel binding with magnetite nanoparticles

Fablet, L.*; Pdrot, M.*; Choueikani, F.*; Kieffer, I.*; Proux, O.*; Pierson-Wickmann, A.-C.*; Cagniart, V.*; Yomogida, Takumi   ; Marsac, R.*

Nickel is an omnipresent trace element in the environment. Due to its high affinity for iron oxide nanoparticles, its elimination from soils and water by these nanoparticles represents an interesting strategy, specially by magnetites, which is naturally present in the environment. However, the interactions between Ni and magnetite are poorly understood, because of the difficulty to control the stoichiometry (Fe(II)-to-Fe(III) ratio) of magnetite. The behavior of Ni in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles with different stoichiometries, in aqueous solution and inert atmosphere, are probed by adsorption experiments and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. This study helps predicting the interactions between Ni and magnetite in environmental conditions, which can be used for the development of efficient remediation strategies.