Structures of Fe-Mo-S complexes
In aquatic ecosystems,nutrients in the form of trace elements such as iron,molybdenum and copper play fundamental roles in important biological processes including nitrogen fixation,nitrate assimilation and N2O decomposition.
In oxygen bearing water these trace elements are predominantly found in their highest oxidation states in the form of environmentally mobile (hydr)oxyanions.In sulfide bearing waters with poor ventilation,(hydr)oxyanions are no longer stable and are either reduced rapidly by sulfide or transformed to thioanions without reduction.
In this hot article byGeorge Helz from theUniversity of Marylandand colleagues at theMinnesota State Universityaddress the mechanisms which prevented the trace elements nutrients being lost from marine environments as insoluble sulfides,during times when large parts the Earth's oceans were sulfidic.
To read the full article,please access the link below.This paper will befree to read until 17 December 2013.
Stabilities of thiomolybdate complexes of iron;implications for retention of essential trace elements (Fe,Cu,Mo) in sulfidic waters
George R.Helz,Britt E.Ericksona and Trent P.Vorlicek
Metallomics,2014,Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3MT00217A
