Effects of desferrioxamine-B on the release of arsenic from volcanic rocks

Microorganisms play an important role in As mobilization into groundwater by directly influencing As speciation or indirectly inducing solubilisation from As-bearing phases, such as Fe, Mn and Al oxides. Iron oxide dissolution could also be induced by siderophores, small-molecule compounds produced by microorganisms to favour Fe uptake. Well waters exceeding the potable water limit of 10 μg As L−1 (0.133 μM) have been widely reported in geothermal areas. Mechanisms responsible for these high As concentrations have not yet been thoroughly elucidated and the complexity of As mobilization in volcanic aquifers is still open to multiple interpretations. The present study was based on batch release experiments aimed at verifying and quantifying the effect of siderophores on As mobilization from volcanic rocks (lava, tuff, peperino and fallout deposit) at different pH and ligand concentration. In the experiments the siderophore trihydroxamate desferroxamine B (Dfob) was used and its effect on As release from volcanic rocks was manifest after the first days. The most favourable pH for As release was pH 6 while concentrations above 250 μM Dfob considerably enhanced As and Fe concentrations in solution. The As release from rocks was between 2.0–10% at pH 6 and 2.4–8.8% at pH 8. The As/Fe ratio in solution changed with time suggesting different release mechanisms and higher mobility of As compared to Fe during the first phase of the experiment. The presence of siderophore increased Fe dissolution rates up to 10 orders of magnitude. The As release correlated with Al, Mn, Fe, Si, V, Ga and Sb and the release of all these elements increased with increasing Dfob concentration. In alkaline environments also Cu, Zn and Pb were mobilized. The presence of siderophores represents a possible trigger for As mobilization from iron binding minerals to the water phase, with interesting implications for groundwater quality, plant uptake and bacterial communities.