Marine Science Faculty Publications
Rare Earth Precipitation and Coprecipitation Behavior: The Limiting Role of PO43− on Dissolved Rare Earth Concentrations in Seawater
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1993
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(93)90364-3
Abstract
Formation of rare earth phosphate coprecipitates, (ΣMi)PO4(s), may set limits on the maximum REE concentrations observed in seawater. Examination of rare earth phosphate solubility products, as well as oceanic {M3+} {PO43−} activity products, indicates that below approximately 300 m, the oceans are at saturation with respect to fresh rare earth phosphate coprecipitates and supersaturated with respect to aged coprecipitates. Removal of REEs from seawater through formation of mixed REE precipitates, (ΣMi)PO4(s), influences REE solution concentrations in a manner which closely resembles scavenging (adsorptive removal from solution). Laboratory observations demonstrate that rare earth coprecipitation preserves the odd/even abundance pattern derived from source materials and enriches HREEs in solution compared to the LREEs. Our observations indicate that phosphate and carbonate concentrations, in addition to pH, should be considered as essential parameters requisite to an understanding of environmental rare earth distributions.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 57, issue 3, p. 519-526
Scholar Commons Citation
Byrne, Robert H. and Kim, Ki-Hyun, "Rare Earth Precipitation and Coprecipitation Behavior: The Limiting Role of PO43− on Dissolved Rare Earth Concentrations in Seawater" (1993). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1695.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1695
