Zn distribution and chemical speciation in marine biominerals: An example on bivalve and foraminifera shells from polluted sites

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-72005-6_10

Authors: Giovanni De Giudici (University of Cagliari) , Carlo Meneghini (University of Roma Tre) , Carla Buosi (University of Cagliari) , Ilaria Carlomagno (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste) , Giuliana Aquilanti (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste) , Tohru Araki (Diamond Light Source) , Diana E. Bedolla (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste) , Maria Antonietta Casu (UOS of Cagliari, National Research Council) , Antonietta Cherchi (University of Cagliari) , Alessandra Gianoncelli (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste) , Antonella Iadecola (RS2E, Réseau Français Sur Le Stockage Electrochimique de L’Energie) , Andrei C. Kuncser (National Institute of Materials Physics, Romania) , V. Adrian Maraloiu (National Institute of Materials Physics, Romania) , Olivier Mathon (The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)) , Valentina Rimondi (University of Florence; CNR—Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources) , Pierpaolo Zuddas (Sorbonne Universités, METIS) , Daniela Medas (University of Cagliari)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Book Chapter
ISBN: 978-3-030-72005-6
Book Chapter: 10

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2021
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 16496

Abstract: Biominerals are widespread in Nature and they precipitate to respond to different physiological purposes. A broad knowledge of their chemical and structural properties offers a unique opportunity to improve our capability to reconstruct actual and paleoenvironment. In this work, we show two case studies, bivalves and foraminifera grown in polluted sites that were characterized by applying different and complementary synchrotron radiation-based investigation techniques, mainly focused on the investigation of Zn incorporation in the biomineralized shells. Using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and X-ray micro-fluorescence (µ-XRF), we found the colocalization of elements across the shells, while we obtained information on chemical speciation of Zn by applying X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Noticeably, instead of metal dispersion in the Ca-carbonate shells, we found traces of several independent phases, in particular for Zn, dispersed generally as microscopic minerals. This work provides fundamental insight into the structural properties, coordinative and chemical environment of some marine biominerals. This new knowledge is fundamental to understand the biogeochemical processes and to develop effective environmental proxies.

Journal Keywords: Bivalves; Foraminifera Biomineralization; Pollution Zinc Speciation

Diamond Keywords: Biomineralisation

Subject Areas: Earth Science, Chemistry, Environment


Instruments: I08-Scanning X-ray Microscopy beamline (SXM)

Other Facilities: XAFS at Elettra

Added On: 25/05/2021 13:48

Discipline Tags:

Desertification & Pollution Earth Sciences & Environment Palaeontology Chemistry Geology

Technical Tags:

Imaging Microscopy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) X-ray Microscopy Scanning X-ray Microscopy