Comparative studies of the mineral transformation of iron oxide nanoparticles in mine-tailing affected sediments and soils and their impacts on mobilization and fixation of heavy metals under two contrasting redox environments

• Grant number: 18/08408-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Agreement: Texas A&M University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Osório Ferreira
• Grantee: Tiago Osório Ferreira
• Principal researcher abroad: Youjun Deng
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/21026-6 - Brazilian coastal wetland soils (hypersaline tidal flats and seagrasses): soil genesis and biogeochemistry of Fe, Si and C, AP.R

Abstract

Heavy metals in mine tailings and the tailing affected soils, sediments, and water body are world-wide concerns due to their adverse effects to the environments, animal and human health. Iron oxides are among the most important minerals that control the heavy metals dynamic in the environment. Because of their small particle size, large surface area, and common isomorphic substitute, these minerals can stabilize heavy metals by adsorption, precipitation or incorporation in their crystal structure. However, iron oxides respond to environmental conditions and transform to thermodynamically more stable forms in corresponding environment. In this sense, iron oxide transformations in tailing affected soils with high concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb) and Al will regulate the dynamics of these elements in different redox conditions. Due to the high variations in mineral species, disordering in the crystal structures, and particle sizes, the iron oxides can take many different pathways during the transformation and therefore exert different effects on the heavy metals. The aim of this proposed research are to assess mineral species and their behavior on incorporation, adsorption, and stability of heavy minerals under two contrasting redox conditions and management styles. The research sites are two acid mine drainage sites due oxidation of sulfide minerals in Texas and Mexico in a semiarid area surrounded by limestone. The semiarid limestone environment is in sharp contrast to Doce River estuary site affected by the largest mine accident disaster in Brazil's history in 2015. The research plan includes exchange activities as teams (USP and TAMU) visit each other's university to participate in the research activities, conduct specialized experiments, and give presentations about the project and data publishing. Moreover, joint graduate student training will be initiated through Research Internship Abroad for post-graduate students. Both PIs plan to initiate a long-term collaboration between the soils faculty at TAMU and USP for other research projects involving soil mineralogy and pedology. (AU)

Scientific publications

(10)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; ANTELO, JUAN; OTERO, XOSE L.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.. From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 278, n. 2, JAN 15 2021. (18/04259-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2, 19/19987-6)

FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; OTERO, XOSE L.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; BERNARDINO, ANGELO FRAGA; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO. Screening for natural manganese scavengers: Divergent phytoremediation potentials of wetland plants. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, v. 365, p. 11-pg., 2022-09-10. (21/00221-3, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6, 18/08408-2, 19/14800-5)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; RUIZ, FRANCISCO; DENG, YOUJUN; DE SOUZA JUNIOR, VALDOMIRO S.; FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; LUIS OTERO, XOSE; CAMELO, DANILO DE LIMA; BERNARDINO, ANGELO FRAGA; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO. Mine tailings in a redox-active environment: Iron geochemistry and potential environmental consequences. Science of The Total Environment, v. 807, n. 3, FEB 10 2022. (19/17413-2, 19/14800-5, 19/19987-6, 18/04259-2, 18/08408-2, 19/18324-3)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; YING, SAMANTHA C.; ABERNATHY, MACON; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; GABRIEL, FABRICIO A.; OTERO, XOSE L.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse. Environment International, v. 146, JAN 2021. (18/08408-2, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6, 19/17413-2, 19/02855-0)

FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; LUIS OTERO, XOSE; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; BERNARDINO, ANGELO FRAGA; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO. ron hazard in an impacted estuary: Contrasting controls of plants and implications to phytoremediatio. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, v. 428, APR 15 2022. (21/00221-3, 19/19987-6, 18/08408-2, 18/04259-2, 19/14800-5)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; ANTELO, JUAN; OTERO, XOSE L.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.. From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 278, p. 11-pg., 2021-01-15. (18/08408-2, 19/02855-0, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6)

BARCELLOS, DIEGO; QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, AMANDA D.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; OTERO, XOSE L.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Short-term Fe reduction and metal dynamics in estuarine soils impacted by Fe-rich mine tailings. APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY, v. 136, JAN 2022. (18/04259-2, 19/19987-6, 19/17413-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2, 19/14800-5)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; YING, SAMANTHA C.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; OTERO, XOSE L.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Role of Fe dynamic in release of metals at Rio Doce estuary: Unfolding of a mining disaster. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 166, MAY 2021. (19/17413-2, 19/19987-6, 18/04259-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2)

BARCELLOS, DIEGO; JENSEN, SEBASTIAN S. K.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; GABRIEL, FABRICIO A.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; QUINTANA, CINTIA O.. Benthic bioturbation: A canary in the mine for the retention and release of metals from estuarine sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 172, NOV 2021. (19/02855-0, 19/19987-6, 18/08408-2)

FERREIRA, AMANDA D.; QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; KANEAGAE, MAIRA P.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; OTERO, XOSE L.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundao Dam Collapse. MINERALS, v. 11, n. 2, FEB 2021. (19/14800-5, 19/19987-6, 18/04259-2, 18/08408-2, 20/06224-1)