Behavior of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Pb²⁺ Cations in Ferromanganese Crusts from the Marcus Wake Seamount (Pacific Ocean) in Aqueous Solutions of Metal Salts

Abstract—The behavior of heavy-metal cations in ore minerals of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the Marcus Wake seamount in aqueous solutions of metal salts was studied in experiments. The Zn ²⁺ and Cd ²⁺ cations showed high reactivity and Ва ²⁺ and Pb ²⁺ showed low reactivity. It was found that Zn ²⁺ and Cd ²⁺ cations within the ore mineral composition are mainly absorbed (up to 66%) whereas Pb ²⁺ and Ва ²⁺ are chemically bound (up to 70%). Ore minerals in the crusts are characterized by sorption properties and high ion-exchange capacity by these cations (1.94–2.62 mg-equiv/g). The capacity values by heavy-metal cations for ore minerals of the crusts from different areas of the Marcus Wake seamount are close to each other.