Formation of Pb(III) intermediates in the electrochemically controlled Pb(II)/PbO₂ system.
The formation of lead dioxide PbO(2), an important corrosion product in drinking water distribution systems with lead-bearing plumbing materials, has been hypothesized to involve Pb(III) intermediates, but their nature and formation mechanisms remain unexplored. This study employed the electrochemical (EC) method of rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) and quantum chemical (QC) simulations to examine the generation of intermediates produced during the oxidation of Pb(II) to PbO(2). RRDE data demonstrate that PbO(2) deposition and reduction involves at least two intermediates. One of them is a soluble Pb(III) species that undergoes further transformations to yield immobilized PbO(2) nanoparticles. The formation of this intermediate in EC system is mediated by hydroxyl radicals (OH(•)), as was evidenced by the suppression of intermediates formation in the presence of the OH(•) scavenger para-chlorobenzoic acid. QC simulations confirmed that the oxidation of Pb(II) by OH(•) proceeds via Pb(III) species. These results show that Pb(III) intermediates play an important role in the reactions determining transitions between Pb(II) and Pb(IV) species and could impact lead release in drinking water.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States. haizhou@berkeley.edu
Haizhou
H
Liu
Andrey M
AM
Kuznetsov
Alexey N
AN
Masliy
John F
JF
Ferguson
Gregory V
GV
Korshin
D002723:Chlorobenzoates / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
D002723:Chlorobenzoates; D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C040768:4-chlorobenzoic acid