Impact of fungal exposure on structural and chemical alterations in ferrihydrite-goethite associations: Implications for metal mobility and environmental risks
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21340%2F25%3A00389700" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21340/25:00389700 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.123145" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.123145</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.123145" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.123145</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Impact of fungal exposure on structural and chemical alterations in ferrihydrite-goethite associations: Implications for metal mobility and environmental risks
Original language description
The precipitation of ochreous materials at abandoned mining sites plays a key role in immobilizing hazardous metals and metalloids from mine drainage waters due to their high sorption capacity and surface reactivity. However, their stability may be compromised by interactions with filamentous fungi, a metal-tolerant microbial group capable of altering their chemical and structural properties. Such changes can increase contaminant mobility, posing ecological risks. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the elemental and structural characteristics of ochreous sediments and evaluates the impact of fungal bioleaching by fungus Aspergillus niger. Using Mossbauer spectroscopy, three ferric iron forms were identified, indicating a highly disordered ferrihydrite (outer layer of crystallite), ferrihydrite with lower degree of distortion (core) and a goethite-like phase. Fungal exposure resulted in nanoscale structural changes, particularly in less ordered ferric sites. Bioleaching led to significant iron extraction, leading to the release of hazardous elements, particularly arsenic, antimony, nickel, copper, and manganese. Simultaneously, structural transformations occurred, including the dissolution of goethite-like phases and less ordered ferric iron sites within ferrihydrite. These findings enable us to propose a structural model of ferrihydrite-goethite associations, suggesting that the spatial structure of each phase, rather than the inherent structural stability of the crystallites, plays a significant role in their mineralogical and chemical resilience and leachability.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10301 - Atomic, molecular and chemical physics (physics of atoms and molecules including collision, interaction with radiation, magnetic resonances, Mössbauer effect)
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/LM2023073" target="_blank" >LM2023073: The VR-1 Nuclear Experimental Hub</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Chemical Geology
ISSN
0009-2541
e-ISSN
1872-6836
Volume of the periodical
698
Issue of the periodical within the volume
123145
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
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UT code for WoS article
001618834100001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105024072545