Leaching of Trace Elements from Rocks under the Action of Organic Acids

Abstract

Experiments were carried out on the leaching of trace elements (Li, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Tl, Y, La, Ce, Th, and U) from unmodified ashes of Karymsky volcano (the Kamchatka Peninsula) under the interactions with 0.01 M oxalic, salicylic, tartaric, citric, and acetic acids at various proportions of solid and liquid phases. Based on the data we obtained, it was concluded that the trace elements were mainly mobilized owing to the destruction of crystalline structures of rock-forming minerals, as well as to the reduction of Fe(III) and Mn(IV) oxide–hydroxides into soluble Fe(II) and Mn(II) compounds (in the case of oxalic acid). The formation of organic complexes increased the stability of metals in a solution and provided the attainment of higher concentrations of the dissolved forms compared to the case without organic ligands.