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.

De Giudici, G., Meneghini, C., Buosi, C., Carlomagno, I., Aquilanti, G., Araki, T., et al. (2021). Zn Distribution and Chemical Speciation in Marine Biominerals: An Example on Bivalve and Foraminifera Shells from Polluted Sites. In Springer Proceedings in Physics (pp. 125-140). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH [10.1007/978-3-030-72005-6_10].

Zn Distribution and Chemical Speciation in Marine Biominerals: An Example on Bivalve and Foraminifera Shells from Polluted Sites

Meneghini C.;Carlomagno I.;
2021-01-01

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.
2021
978-3-030-72004-9
De Giudici, G., Meneghini, C., Buosi, C., Carlomagno, I., Aquilanti, G., Araki, T., et al. (2021). Zn Distribution and Chemical Speciation in Marine Biominerals: An Example on Bivalve and Foraminifera Shells from Polluted Sites. In Springer Proceedings in Physics (pp. 125-140). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH [10.1007/978-3-030-72005-6_10].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/396125
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact