The dark production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) coupled to biogeochemical cycling of iron (Fe) plays a pivotal role in controlling arsenic transformation and detoxification. However, the effect of secondary atom incorporation into Fe(III) oxyhydroxides on this process is poorly understood. Here, we show that the presence of oxygen vacancy (OV) as a result of Cu incorporation in goethite substantially enhances the As(III) oxidation by Fe(II) under oxic conditions. Electrochemical and density functional theory (DFT) evidence reveals that the electron transfer (ET) rate constant is enhanced from 0.023 to 0.197 s-1, improving the electron efficiency of the surface-bound Fe(II) on OV defective surfaces. The cascade charge transfer from the surface-bound Fe(II) to O2 mediated by Fe(III) oxyhydroxides leads to the O-O bond of O2 stretching to 1.46-1.48 Å equivalent to that of superoxide (•O2-), and •O2- is the predominant ROS responsible for As(III) oxidation. Our findings highlight the significant role of atom incorporation in changing the ET process on Fe(III) oxyhydroxides for ROS production. Thus, such an effect must be considered when evaluating Fe mineral reactivity toward changing their surface chemistry, such as those noted here for Cu incorporation, which likely determines the fates of arsenic and other redox sensitive pollutants in the environments with oscillating redox conditions.
Keywords: Cu incorporation; Fe cycle; arsenic; reactive oxygen species; redox chemistry; surface defect.