Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Nanoparticulate Goethite

Christopher S. Kim, Jill F. Banfield, and Glenn A. Waychunas

Contact: Christopher S. Kim, 510/486-7709, CSKim@lbl.gov

Research Objectives
Nanoparticles feature high surface areas, a tendency to remain in suspension, and differences in their chemical/physical properties relative to bulk phases. As a result, the reactivity of nanoparticles to metal contaminants (e.g., As, Cu, Hg, Zn) may be greatly enhanced in inverse proportion to their size. The objectives of this research are to study the formation, growth, and reactivity of nanoparticulate goethite (a -FeOOH), one of the most common mineral phases in the environment and one of the most reactive in terms of metal-contaminant uptake.

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