The binding of rare earth elements (REE) to humic acid (HA) was studied by combining ultrafiltration and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry techniques. REE­HA complexation experiments were performed at various pH conditions (ranging from 2 to 10.5) using a standard batch equilibration method. Results show that the amount of REE bound to HA strongly increases with increasing pH. Moreover, a Middle-REE (MREE) downward concavity is evidenced by REE distribution patterns at acidic pH. Modelling of the experimental data using Humic Ion Binding Model VI provided a set of log KMA values (i.e., the REE­HA complexation constants specific to Model VI) for the entire REE series. The log KMA pattern obtained displays a MREE downward concavity. Log KMA values range from 2.42 to 2.79. These binding constants are in good agreement with the few existing datasets quantifying the binding of REE with humic substances but quite different from a recently published study which evidence a lanthanide contraction effect (i.e., continuous increase of the constant from La to Lu). The MREE downward concavity displayed by REE­HA complexation pattern determined in this study compares well with results from REE­fulvic acid (FA) and REE­acetic acid complexation studies. This similarity in the REE complexation pattern suggests that carboxylic groups are the main binding sites of REE in HA. This conclusion is further illustrated by a detailed review of published studies for natural, organic-rich, river- and ground-waters which show no evidence of a lanthanide contraction effect in REE pattern. Finally, application of Model VI using the new, experimentally determined log KMA values to World Average River Water confirms earlier suggestions that REE occur predominantly as organic complexes (= 60%) in the pH range between 5­5.5 and 7­8.5 (i.e., in circumneutral pH waters). The only significant difference as compared to earlier model predictions made using estimated log KMA values is that the experimentally determined log KMA values predict a significantly higher amount of Light-REE bound to organic matter under alkaline pH conditions

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Experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of organic complexation on the development of Ce anomalies and the lanthanide tetrad effect during the adsorption of rare-earth elements (REE) onto MnO 2 . Two types of aqueous solutions-NaCl and NaNO 3 -were tested at pH 5 and 7.5. Time-series experiments indicate that a steady-state is reached within less than 10 h when REE occur as free inorganic species, whereas steady state is not reached before 10 d when REE occur as REE-humate complexes. The distribution coefficients (K d REE ) between suspended MnO 2 and solution show no or only very weak positive Ce anomaly or lanthanide tetrad effect when REE occur as humate complexes, unlike the results obtained in experiments with REE occurring as free inorganic species. Monitoring of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations show that log K d REE organic /K d DOC ratios are close to 1.0, implying that the REE and humate remain bound to each other upon adsorption. Most likely, the Ce anomaly reduction/suppression in the organic experiments arises from a combination of two processes: (i) inability of MnO 2 to oxidize Ce(III) because of shielding of MnO 2 surfaces by humate molecules and (ii) Ce(IV) cannot be preferentially removed from solution due to quantitative complexation of the REE by organic matter. We suggest that the lack of lanthanide tetrad effect arises because the adsorption of REE-humate complexes onto MnO 2 occurs dominantly via the humate side of the complexes (anionic adsorption), thereby preventing expression of the differences in Racah parameters for 4f electron repulsion between REE and the oxide surface. The results presented here explain why, despite the development of strongly oxidizing conditions and the presence of MnO 2 in the aquifer, no (or insignificant) negative Ce anomalies are observed in organic-rich waters. The present study demonstrates experimentally that the Ce anomaly cannot be used as a reliable proxy of redox conditions in organic-rich waters or in precipitates formed at equilibrium with organic-rich waters.

International audienceThe effect of metal loading on the binding of rare earth elements (REE) to humic acid (HA) was studied by combining ultrafiltration and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry techniques. REE­HA complexation experiments were performed at pH 3 for REE/C molar ratios ranging from ca 4 — 10-4 to 2.7 — 10-2. Results show that the relative amount of REE bound to HA strongly increases with decreasing REE/C. A middle-REE (MREE) downward concavity is shown by patterns at high metal loading, whereas patterns at low metal loading display a regular increase from La to Lu. Humic Ion Model VI modelling are close to the experimental data variations, provided that (i) the ?LK2 parameter (i.e. the Model VI parameter taken into account the presence of strong but low density binding sites) is allowed to increase regularly from La to Lu (from 1.1 to 2.1) and (ii) the published log KMA values (i.e. the REE­HA binding constants specific to Model VI) are slightly modified, in particular with respect to heavy REE. Modelling approach provided evidence that patterns with varying REE/C likely arises because REE binding to HA occurs through two types of binding sites in different density: (i) a few strong sites that preferentially complex the heavy REE and thus control the atterns at low REE/C; (ii) a larger amount of weaker binding sites that preferentially complex the middle-REE and thus control the pattern at high REE/C. Hence, metal loading exerts a major effect on HA-mediated REE binding, which could explain the diversity of published conditional constants for REE binding with HA. A literature survey suggests that the few strong sites activated at low REE/C could be multidentate carboxylic sites, or perhaps N-, or P-functional groups. Finally, an examination of the literature field data proposed that the described loading effect could account for much of the variation in REE patterns observed in natural organic-rich waters (DOC > 5 mg L-1 and 4 pH 7)

International audienceThe complexation of Fe(II)with organic matter (OM)and especiallywith humic acids (HAs) remains poorly characterized in the literature. In this study, batch experiments were conducted on a pH range varying from 1.95 to 9.90 to study HA-mediated Fe(II) binding. The results showed that high amounts of Fe(II) are complexed with HAdepending on the pH. Experimental datawere used to determine a new set of binding parameters by coupling PHREEPLOT and PHREEQC-Model VI. The new binding parameters (log KMA = 2.19 ± 0.16, log KMB= 4.46± 0.47 and ΔLK2=3.90 ± 1.30) were validated using the LFER (linear free energy relationship) method and published adsorption data between Fe(II) and Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) (Rose andWaite, 2003). Theywere then put in PHREEQC-Model VI to determine the distribution of Fe(II) onto HA functional groups. It was shown that Fe(II) forms mainly bidentate complexes, some tridentate complexes and only a few monodentate complexes with HA. Moreover, Fe(II) is mainly adsorbed onto carboxylic groups at acidic and neutral pH, whereas carboxy-phenolic and phenolic groups play a major role at basic pH. The major species adsorbed onto HA functional groups is Fe2+; Fe(OH)+ appears at basic pH (frompH 8.13 to 9.9). The occurrence of OMand the resulting HA-mediated binding of Fe(II) can therefore influence Fe(II) speciation and bioavailability in peatlands and wetlands, where seasonal anaerobic conditions prevail. Furthermore, the formation of a cationic bridge and/or the dissolution of Fe(III)-(oxy)hydroxides by the formation of Fe(II)-OM complexes can influence the speciation of other trace metals and contaminants such as As

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