Mitchell, P.C.H., in Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Ed., 1990, A16, Chap. 7, pp 675 - 682 and references therein.
Aveston, J., Anacker, E.W. and Johnson, J.S., Inorg. Chem., 1964, 3, 735.
Busey, R.H., and Keller, O.L., J. Chem. Phys., 1964, 41, 215.
In protonation of MoO42- at concentrations below 10(-3) M the dominant species is monomeric molybdic acid, H2MoO4. This is likely to be the species adsorbed on manganese oxide, a process thought to control MoO42- levels in the ocean, because of the strong proton dependence of MoO42- adsorption. A 919 cm-1 Raman band assigned to v(s)Mo= O of H2MoO4 was observed with 244 nm laser excitation. In DFT calculations on possible H2MoO4 structures the best fit for the 919 cm-1 band was obtained for MoO3( H2O)3.
Oyerinde, O.F., Weeks, C. L., Anbar, A. D., and Spiro, T. G., Solution structure of molybdic acid from Raman spectroscopy and DFT analysis, Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2008, 361, 1000-1007.
In oxidation state V molybdenum is less acidic than in oxidation state VI. Molybdenum(V) oxide, Mo2O5, and hydroxide, MoO(OH)3, are insoluble in neutral and alkaline solutions. Species of molybdenum(V) in hydrogen halide acids have been studied. In concentrated hydrochloric acid the main species is the mononuclear [MoOCl5]2- ion. At lower acid concentrations binuclear [Mo2O3]4+ and [Mo2O4]2+ ions are formed.
Contrary to earlier reports it is now believed that molybdenum(IV) is stable in aqueous solutions and is not subject to disproportionation.
Lamache, M., in Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Chemistry and Uses of Molybdenum, 1973,
Mitchell, P. C. H. (ed), Climax Molybdenum Co. Ltd, p. 278.
For molybdenum(III) the existence of the ion [Mo(H2O)6]3+and related dimeric ions has been demonstrated.
In ligand exchange reactions in aqueous solution molybdenum(VI) and (V) are kinetically labile and molybdenum(IV) and (III) are inert [Bowen and Taube, 1971; Sasaki and Sykes, 1973; Sasaki et al., 1975].
Bowen, A.R. and Taube, H., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1971, 93, 3287.
Sasaki, Y.and Sykes, A. G., in Proceedings of the first Climax International Conference on the Chemistry and Uses of Molybdeum, 1973, Mitchell, P. C. H., (ed), Climax Molybdenum Co. Ltd, London and Ann Arbor, p. 64.
Sasaki, Y., Taylor , R.S. and Sykes, A.G., J. Chem. Soc .( Dalton ), 1975, 396.
Species in aqueous solutions
Tetrahedral molybdate species in basic to near neutral solution phase of natural hydrothermal fluid; chloride complexes only significant in highly acidic (HCl) fluid
Molybdenum(VI) is expected to be the main form of molybdenum in hydrothermal fluids up to magmatic hydrothermal conditions. We conducted an in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopic study of molybdenum(VI) speciation in H2O-HCl-NaCl brines up to 385°C at a pressure of 600 bar. The EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) and XANES (X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure) data supported by ab initio XANES calculations confirm that tetrahedral complexes containing the molybdate anion (MoO42-) predominate in basic to near neutral solutions with chloride concentration up to 5.5 M. The geometry of this species changes little over the investigated P-T range, and there is no complexation between MoO42- and chloride. In highly acidic solutions, molybdenum(VI) speciation is dominated by distorted octahedral oxo-chloro complexes MoOmCln6-2m-n; the number of chloride ligands increases with increasing temperature, to a maximum of ca 5 (e. g., MoOCl5-) at 340°C in 6.21 M HCl. These data suggest that molybdenum speciation is dominated by tetrahedral molybdate species (e. g., HMoO4- or MoO42-) in the basic to near neutral solution phase of natural hydrothermal fluid, and chloride complexes will only play a significant role in highly acidic fluid under our experimental P-T conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Borg, Stacey, Liu, Weihua, Etschmann, Barbara, Tian, Yuan, and Brugger, Joel, An XAS study of molybdenum speciation in hydrothermal chloride solutions from 25-385°C and 600 bar, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2012, 92, 292-307.
Speciation molybdate aqueous solution
Frequency response analysis at 1000 Hz to 35 mHz and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the admittance, impedance, double layer capacitance, and semiconduction behavior of molybdate species in solution. The dominant species was MoO42- in the pH range 7-12 and protonated Mo7O246- pH range 3-5 and Mo8O264- below pH 2 consistent with potentiometric titrations.
Krishnan, C. V., Garnett, M., Hsiao, B., and Chu, B., Electrochemical measurements of isopolyoxomolybdates: 1. pH dependent behavior of sodium molybdate, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 2007, 2, 29-51.
Dissolution and solubility of molybdates and molybdenum compounds
Solubility of molybdate at high temperatures and ore formation
Mo solubilities of 1.6 wt% in the case of KCl-bearing aqueous solutions and up to 0.8 wt% in pure H2O were found. Mo-oxo-chloride complexes are present at high salinity (> 20 wt% KCl) and ion pairs at moderate to low salinity (< 11 wt% KCl) in KCl - H2O aqueous solutions. In water molybdic acid is the dominant species in aqueous solution. High Mo concentrations can be transported in aqueous solutions. Mo concentration in aqueous fluids is not limiting factor for ore formation; precipitation and the availability of sulfur control the formation of molybdenite (MoS2).
Ulrich, T. and Mavrogenes, J., An experimental study of the solubility of molybdenum in H2O and KCl-H(2)Osolutions from 500 degrees C to 800 degrees C, and 150 to 300 MPa, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 2008, 72, 2316-2330.
Electrochemical Behaviour of Isopoly- and Heteropolyoxomolybdates Formed During Anodic Oxidation of Molybdenum in Seawater
The electrochemical behaviour of isopoly- and heteropolyoxomolybdates formed during anodic oxidation of molybdenum in seawater at constant current intensity was investigated in this work.
The results supported by spectrophotometry clearly indicate the formation of mixed valence molybdates (V/VI) during this process.
The electrochemical behaviour of isopolyoxomolybdates shows a typical quasi-reversible mass-transport limited system coupled with an adsorption of reduced species and under some kinetic limitations.
For heteropolyoxomolybdates a reversible mass-transport limited system coupled with an homogeneous chemical reaction was found. The coupled reaction, probably protonation, prevents a rapid heterogeneous electron transfer for heteropolyoxomolybdate complex. The phenomenon is more noticeable for the phosphomolybdate complex since the protonation step has a greater influence on the registered voltammograms.
The presented results have a great importance in research areas where molybdate chemistry is used in detection of silicate and phosphate, namely in seawater
Jonca, J., Barus, C., Giraud, W., Thouron, D., Garcon, V., and Comtat, M., Electrochemical Behaviour of Isopoly- and Heteropolyoxomolybdates Formed During Anodic Oxidation of Molybdenum in Seawater, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 2012, 7, 7325-7348.
In a study undertaken by IMOA for REACH the molybdenum species produced in water when molybdenum compounds are dissolved or stirred in suspension in water have been identified by ultraviolet spectroscopy of the water phase: sodium molybdate, Na2MoO4. 2H2O, ammonium dimolybdate, (NH4)2Mo2O7, ammonium heptamolybdate, (NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O, ammonium octamolybdate, (NH4)4Mo8O26.5H2O, calcium molybdate, CaMoO4, molybdenum metal powder, ferromolybdenum, molybdenum dioxide, MoO2, molybdenum trioxide, MoO3, roasted molybdenum concentrate (MoO3), molybdenum disulfide, MoS2 and iron(III) molybdate, Fe2(MoO4)3. Species were identified by their characteristic uv spectra, peak positions and intensities. The solutions and supernatant liquids contain the molybdate ion and, in addition at lower pHs, protonated molybdate. At biological concentrations and pH the only molybdenum species produced from the molybdenum substances studied is the molybdate, [MoO4]2-, ion.
The Report (Ultraviolet spectra and REACH read across, Report for the International Molybdenum Association and the REACH Molybdenum Consortium, P.C.H. Mitchell, March 2009) is available to download as a PDF file.
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Molybdate mine tailings speciation
The geochemical model for Mo mineralization in the JEB Tailings Management Facility (JEB TMF), operated by AREVA Resources Canada at McClean Lake, Saskatchewan, was investigated using X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES), an elemental-specific technique that is sensitive to low elemental concentrations. Twenty five samples collected during the 2013 sampling campaign from various locations and depths in the TMF were analyzed by XANES. Mo K-edge XANES analysis indicated that the tailings consisted primarily of Mo(6+) species: powellite (CaMoO4), ferrimolybdite (Fe2(MoO4)3.8H2O), and molybdate adsorbed on ferrihydrite (Fe(OH)3 - MoO4). A minor concentration of a Mo(4+) species in the form of molybdenite (MoS2) was also present. Changes in the Mo mineralization over time were inferred by comparing the relative amounts of the Mo species in the tailings to the independently measured aqueous Mo pore water concentration. It was found that ferrimolybdite and molybdate adsorbed on ferrihydrite initially dissolves in the TMF and precipitates as powellite.
Blanchard, P. E.,Hayes, J. R.,Grosvenor, A. P.,Rowson, J.,Hughes, K.,and Brown, C.,Investigating the Geochemical Model for Molybdenum Mineralization in the JEB Tailings Management Facility at McClean Lake, Saskatchewan: An X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study, Environ Sci Technol, 2015, 49, 6504.
Molybdate welding fumes analysis speciation
A novel analytical procedure was developed for the simultaneous speciation analysis of chromate, molybdate, tungstate and vanadate by anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Linear gradient elution from 100% water to 100% 0.7M NaCl was applied for chromatographic separation of metal species. In standard aqueous solution at neutral pH molybdate, tungstate and vanadate exist in several aqueous species, while chromate is present as a single CrO42- species. Consequently, only chromate can be separated from this solution in a sharp chromatographic peak. For obtaining sharp chromatographic peaks for molybdate, tungstate and vanadate, the pH of aqueous standard solutions was raised to 12. At highly alkaline conditions single CrO42-, MoO42- and WO42- are present and were eluted in sharp chromatographic peaks, while VO43- species, which predominates at pH 12 was eluted in slightly broaden peak. In a mixture of aqueous standard solutions (pH 12) chromate, molybdate, tungstate and vanadate were eluted at retention times from 380 to 420s, 320 to 370s, 300 to 350s and 240 to 360s, respectively. Eluted species were simultaneously detected on-line by ICP-MS recording m/z 52, 95, 182 and 51. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the analysis of leachable concentrations of chromate, molybdate, tungstate and vanadate in alkaline extracts (2% NaOH+3% Na2CO3) of manual metal arc (MMA) welding fumes loaded on filters. Good repeatability and reproducibility of measurement (RSD+/-3.0%) for the investigated species were obtained in both aqueous standard solutions (pH 12) and in alkaline extracts of welding fumes. Low limits of detection (LODs) were found for chromate (0.02ngCrmL(-1)), molybdate (0.1ngMomL(-1)), tungstate (0.1ngWmL(-1)) and vanadate (0.2ngVmL(-1)). The accuracy of analytical procedure for the determination of chromate was checked by analysis of CRM 545, Cr(VI) in welding dust loaded on a filter. Good agreement between determined and reported certified values was obtained. For molybdate, tungstate and vanadate the assessment of accuracy was performed by spiking welding fume filters. Good recoveries for all investigated species (98-101%) confirmed the accuracy of the analytical procedure.
Scancar, J.,Berlinger, B.,Thomassen, Y.,and Milacic, R.,Simultaneous speciation analysis of chromate, molybdate, tungstate and vanadate in welding fume alkaline extracts by HPLC-ICP-MS, Talanta, 2015, 142, 164.
Thiomolybdate sulfidic water speciation
The distinct reactivities of Mo and Re in oxic versus anoxic waters make these elements ideally suited for use as redox proxies. However, their full exploitation as geochemical tracers requires that their chemical transformations in sulfidic water be well understood. While thermodynamic data have been used to predict Mo and Re speciation within sulfidic waters, these predictions remain unsubstantiated because effective methodologies for separating the thiomolybdate ((MoOxS42-)-O-VI-x)) and thioperrhenate ((ReOxS42-)-O-VII-x) anions within natural settings have yet to be developed. Anion exchange chromatography (AEC) is often employed to provide separation of environmentally important anions. For example, thiometalates of As and Sb have been quantified in sulfidic geothermal waters using AEC coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Unfortunately, AEC methods are incapable of separating the thiomolybdate or thioperrhenate anions due to the extreme retention these thiometalates experience on AEC columns. Because reverse phase ion pair chromatography (RP-IPC) offers greatly diminished retention times, we have developed RP-IPC-methods that are capable of separating all stable thiomolybdates and thioperrhenates within 40 min. An isocratic method provides effective separation of the thiomolybdates. Thioperrhenates and mixtures of the thiomolybdates and thioperrhenates require gradient methods. Addition of p-cyanophenol (p-CP) to the eluent markedly reduces thiometalate retention and facilitates their separation. Our efforts could lead in the near future to coupling RP-IPC with ICP-MS or multi-collector ICP-MS for characterizing Mo and Re speciation in natural sulfidic waters as well as potential fractionation among Mo and Re isotopes during speciation changes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Vorlicek, T. P., Chappaz, A., Groskreutz, L. M., Young, N., and Lyons, T. W.,A new analytical approach to determining Mo and Re speciation in sulfidic waters, Chemical Geology, 2015, 403, 52.