aluminosilicatearsenate

Aluminosilicatearsenate is a descriptive term applied to inorganic solids that combine an aluminosilicate framework with arsenate groups. The term is not widely used as the name of a distinct mineral; rather, it denotes a class of materials in which aluminum and silicon form a tetrahedral oxide network, within which arsenate (AsO4) units are incorporated either as part of the framework or as discrete tetrahedra balanced by extra-framework cations.

In these materials, aluminum and silicon typically occupy tetrahedral positions to create a three-dimensional aluminosilicate framework. Arsenate groups can connect to the framework by sharing oxygen atoms, or can be present as interstitial or interlayer tetrahedra in layered analogs. Charge balance is achieved with cations such as Na+, K+, or Ca2+, and sometimes protons or water molecules in the structure. The exact arrangement depends on synthesis conditions and the desired balance of framework versus arsenate coordination.

Occurrence and synthesis are primarily studied in laboratory settings and in environments enriched in arsenic, where arsenate can become incorporated into aluminosilicate lattices under hydrothermal or solid-state conditions. Such materials are also explored for potential applications, including immobilizing arsenic in contaminated environments, as sorbents for arsenic species, or as catalysts and ion-exchange materials. Their properties—such as framework stability, porosity, and chemical resilience—are influenced by the distribution of arsenate units and the nature of the compensating cations.

See also: aluminosilicates, arsenates, zeolites, inorganic framework solids. Given the toxicity of arsenic, handling and disposal of these materials require appropriate safety precautions.