Layer Structured Manganese Oxide Hydroxides. IV: The Buserite Group; Structure Stabilization by Transition Elements

Abstract

As colloidal manganese oxide hydroxides in natural waters occur in an infinity of finely divided varieties of an apparently limited number of (unknown) phases, an attempt has been made to prepare standard samples of the so-called “10 Å phase” which we propose to call buserite. As evidenced by X-ray powder patterns, bivalent metal ions may become incorporated into the lattice of buserite. While Na⁺-, Ca²⁺-, and Mg²⁺-buserite become unstable in slightly acid suspensions and dehydrate at low vapour pressure, transition metal ions which are more tightly built into the structure of buserite stabilize this structure. Fe³⁺ cannot be incorporated into the lattice, presumably due to its insolubility characteristics.