Behavior of Zn2+, Cd2+, Ba2+ and Pb2+ cations in ferromanganese crusts from the Marcus Wake seamount (Pacific Ocean) in aqueous solutions of metal salts

Abstract

The behavior of heavy-metal cations in ore minerals of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the Marcus Wake seamount in aqueous solutions of metal salts was studied in experiments. The Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations showed high reactivity and Ва²⁺ and Pb²⁺ showed low reactivity. It was found that Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations within the ore mineral composition are mainly absorbed (up to 66%) whereas Pb²⁺ and Ва²⁺ are chemically bound (up to 70%). Ore minerals in the crusts are characterized by sorption properties and high ionexchange capacity by these cations (1.94–2.62 mg-equiv/g). The capacity values by heavy-metal cations for ore minerals of the crusts from different areas of the Marcus Wake seamount are close to each other.