摘要
Asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation-inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to determine whether colloidal arsenic（As） exists in soil pore water and soil extract samples at two arsenic-contaminated abandoned gold mines（Montague and Goldenville, Nova Scotia）. Colloidal arsenic was found in 12 out of the 80 collected samples（= 15%）, and was primarily associated with iron（Fe） in the encountered colloids. The molar Fe/As ratios indicate that the colloids in some samples appeared to be discrete iron–arsenic minerals, whereas in other samples, they were more consistent with As-rich iron（oxy）hydroxides. Up to three discrete size fractions of colloidal As were encountered in the samples, with mean colloid diameters between 6 and 14 nm. The pore water samples only contained one size fraction of As-bearing colloids（around 6 nm diameter）, while larger As-bearing colloids were only encountered in soil extracts.
Asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation-inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to determine whether colloidal arsenic（As） exists in soil pore water and soil extract samples at two arsenic-contaminated abandoned gold mines（Montague and Goldenville, Nova Scotia）. Colloidal arsenic was found in 12 out of the 80 collected samples（= 15%）, and was primarily associated with iron（Fe） in the encountered colloids. The molar Fe/As ratios indicate that the colloids in some samples appeared to be discrete iron–arsenic minerals, whereas in other samples, they were more consistent with As-rich iron（oxy）hydroxides. Up to three discrete size fractions of colloidal As were encountered in the samples, with mean colloid diameters between 6 and 14 nm. The pore water samples only contained one size fraction of As-bearing colloids（around 6 nm diameter）, while larger As-bearing colloids were only encountered in soil extracts.
基金
NSERC for providing funding through the Strategic Grants Program
