Influence of tartaric acid on the electron transfer between oxyanions and lepidocrocite

Iron oxide minerals control the environmental behavior of trace elements. However, the potential effects of electron transfer directions by iron oxides between organic acids and trace elements remain unclear. This study investigates the redox capacity of tartaric acid (TA) with chromate (Cr(Ⅵ)) or arsenate (As(V)) on lepidocrocite (Lep) from the perspective of electron transfer. The results demonstrated the configurations of TA (bidentate binuclear (BB)), As(V) (BB), and Cr(Ⅵ) (BB and protonated monodentate binuclear (HMB)) on Lep. Frontier molecular orbital calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) binding energy shifts further indicated different electron transfer directions between TA and the oxyanions on Lep. The iron of Lep might act as electron acceptors when TA is adsorbed, whereas the iron and oxygen of Lep act as electron donors when As(V) is adsorbed. The iron of Lep might accept electrons from its oxygen and subsequently transfer these electrons to Cr(Ⅵ). Macroscopic validation experiments showed the reduction of Cr(VI), whereas no reduction of As(V). The XPS analysis showed a peak shift, with the possible formation of As–Fe–TA ternary complexes and electron transfer on Lep. These findings indicate that mineral interfacial electron transfer considerably influences the transport and transformation of oxyanions. [Display omitted] •Interfacial interactions between Lep and oxyanions (As(V) or Cr(VI)) in the presence of TA were studied.•Lep acts as an electron acceptor when TA is adsorbed.•Lep acts as an electron donor with different pathways when only Cr(Ⅵ) or As(V) is adsorbed.•The Lep–TA + Cr(VI) system reduced Cr(VI) to 30 % compared to 9 % in the presence of only TA.