Papers by Author: Virgínia S.T. Ciminelli

Abstract: X-Rays Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (XAFS) is an analytical technique that can be used as a probe to characterize almost all elements, even if they appear in diluted or non-crystalline systems. This is due to the fact that the absorption probability of X-rays has a unique feature for each element, and is modulated by the chemical and physical state of that element, as well as by its neighborhood. This paper presents a brief description of the X-rays absorption phenomenon and the analytical technique involving this phenomenon, as well as the application of XAFS in biosorption studies. For more details on XAFS theory, refer to [1].

Abstract: The biosorption of arsenic species by dried lettuce leaves (L.sativa) was investigated. Arsenic sorption, that is not effective on in natura biomass, was enhanced when the biomass was previously loaded with Fe(III). Analysis of X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) spectra showed that iron was incorporated as Fe(III) and arsenic as As(V), regardless the contact with the lowest or highest valence species of these elements. The features of Extended X-ray Absorption Fine-Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS) spectra suggest that the nearest neighboring atoms of iron ions are the same in all the samples, even in the As-Fe loaded ones. These results indicate the arsenic oxyanions as the sorbed species on the iron-loaded biomass.