A computational study of the interaction of organic surfactants with goethite α-FeO(OH) surfaces

Abstract

We have studied the adsorption of three organic molecules onto different surfaces of goethite α-FeO(OH) using atomistic simulation techniques. New interatomic potentials for the interaction between goethite and the organic molecules were developed. In the majority of cases the organic molecules were found to be capable of forming a coordinate bond via their carbonyl oxygen atom with a surface iron ion. In addition, weaker hydrogen bonds were formed between the organic molecules and the surfaces. The largest adsorption energies were obtained for the modes of adsorption where the organic molecules bridged or spanned the periodic grooves or dips present on the goethite surfaces, thus forming several interactions between the molecule and the surface. Among all adsorbates studied, the hydroxamic acid molecule in the eclipsed conformation releases the largest adsorption energy when it interacts with goethite surfaces, followed by the staggered conformations of hydroxyethanal and methanoic acid molecules. The adsorption energies are in the range of −60.0 to −186.4 kJ mol⁻¹. Due to the surface structure, as well as the flexibility and size of hydroxamic acid and hydroxyethanal, in most cases these adsorbate molecules lose their planarity with respect to the structure of the isolated molecules. We found that the replacement of pre-adsorbed water by the organic adsorbates is an exothermic process on all the goethite surfaces studied. The removal by sorption onto iron particles of humic and fulvic acids, the major substituents of natural organic matter (NOM) that pollutes aquifers and soils, is corroborated by our calculations of the adsorption of surfactants with the same functional groups as the surfaces of oxidised iron particles.