Vanadium cycle

Article

The vanadium cycle describes the movement and chemical transformation of vanadium among rocks, soils, water, sediments, the atmosphere, and organisms. Vanadium occurs in several oxidation states whose stability depends on oxygen and chemical conditions.

Weathering releases vanadium from minerals, while rivers, dust, volcanic emissions, and hydrothermal systems transport it. In oxygen-rich water, soluble vanadate forms may occur; in reducing environments, vanadium is more readily incorporated into minerals and organic-rich sediments.

Some microorganisms and marine organisms use or accumulate vanadium, and microbial reactions can change its oxidation state. Organic matter and iron or manganese oxides strongly influence its transport.

Mining, petroleum refining, heavy-oil combustion, steel production, and industrial waste add human sources. Vanadium concentrations and isotopes in sediments can also provide evidence about ancient ocean oxygen conditions.

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• Source / publisher: Wikipedia
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Wikipedia
• URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium_cycle