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Environmental mineralogy: spectroscopic studies on ferrous saponite and the reduction of hexavalent chromium

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Abstract

A green-coloured phyllosilicate occurring on the walls of amygdaloidal cavities and along fractures in the Deccan Flood basalts at Killari, Maharashtra, India, has been identified as iron-rich saponite with a chemical composition [Na0.60 K0.40 Ca0.47] {Mg2.05Fe3.95} (Si6.45Al1.55) O20(OH)4. In order to explore the possible application of this phyllosilicate for environmental management, we have carried out X-ray photon spectroscopic (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopic (DRS) measurements on the dichromate solutions, in both the untreated and treated form. The dichromate solution treated with the saponite samples show a remarkable capability not only to adsorb hexavalent chromium but also effect a reduction of hexavalent to trivalent chromium at an efficiency of 75%. These valence states of chromium were characterised unambiguously by XPS and DRS spectra collected at room temperature. Our studies show that Killari saponite is capable of reducing Cr (VI) to Cr (III). The ferrous saponite in Deccan Flood basalts could therefore be a useful mineral in environmental management in areas affected by Cr (VI) effluents.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to V.P. Dimri, Director, National Geophysical Research Institute, and Dr. J.S. Yadav, Director, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad for their encouragement and support. We thank Dr. H.K. Gupta, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, New Delhi, for his enthusiastic support and also for his keen interest in the studies of the mineralogy of the Killari borehole. We thank Dr. R. Srinivasan for many useful discussions. GP is grateful to Dr. Tom Beer, Australia for his kind appreciation of this paper. We thank Dr. R. K. Chadha for inviting us to make this contribution to the special issue of Natural Hazards. We gratefully acknowledge the partial financial support by ISRO, Department of Space Government of India under the PLANEX programme. The manuscript has been improved by constructive comments from the reviewers and from Prof. W.A. Bassett, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India

    G. Parthasarathy

  2. Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    B. M. Choudary, B. Sreedhar & A. C. Kunwar

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  1. G. Parthasarathy
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  2. B. M. Choudary
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  3. B. Sreedhar
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  4. A. C. Kunwar
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Correspondence to G. Parthasarathy.

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Parthasarathy, G., Choudary, B., Sreedhar, B. et al. Environmental mineralogy: spectroscopic studies on ferrous saponite and the reduction of hexavalent chromium. Nat Hazards 40, 647–655 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-006-9015-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-006-9015-z

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