The rate of dissolution of akaganéite in HCl increased with time over the bulk of the reaction leading to a sigmoid dissolution vs. time curve. The bulk of the dissolution of lepidocrocite could be described by the cube root law. Transmission electron microscopy examination of partly dissolved crystals of akaganéite showed that acid attack proceeded mainly along the [001] direction. Initially, the tapered ends of the crystals became squared, and as dissolution continued the lengths of the crystals decreased steadily. At the same time, the crystals were gradually hollowed out. Acid attack was most pronounced at the edges of the crystals of lepidocrocite and appeared to involve a disruption of the hydrogen bonds that link the sheets of octahedra making up the structure. Defects also acted as sites for preferential acid attack. Dissolution of multi-domainic crystals involved preferential attack along the domain boundaries, as well as at the edges of the crystals. Single-domain crystals were well developed, but appeared to contain internal imperfections, which promoted the formation of holes on the otherwise unreactive (010) faces.

The interaction of Mn and akaganéite in neutral to alkaline media has been investigated using X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Akaganéite transformed into goethite and/or hematite, whereas Mn precipitated as hausmannite and birnessite at pH > 12 and as manganite at pH 7.5–8.5. Mn influenced the kinetics of the transformation of akaganéite: the rate-determining step, i.e., the dissolution of akaganéite, was retarded by adsorbed Mn species. Hematite formation was not suppressed. By catalyzing the air oxidation of adsorbed Mn(II), akaganéite promoted the formation of birnessite. Akaganéite did not retard recrystallization of the Mn phases. The incorporation of Mn in the structure of goethite formed in this system was negligible, and jacobsite (MnFe2O4) did not form. The formation of mixed Mn-Fe phases appeared to require a ratio of Mn2+: Fetotal > 0.02; this ratio was not achieved due to the oxidation of Mn2+ at the akaganéite surface.

The conversion of akaganéite to goethite and/or hematite in alkaline media has been followed by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The rate of transformation fell and the amount of hematite in the product increased as the [OH−] decreased to < 1 M. Kinetic studies and TEM indicated that the transformation involved dissolution of akaganéite followed by reprecipitation of goethite and/or hematite. The rate-determining step was the dissolution of akaganéite.

Silicate species retarded the formation of goethite + hematite principally by inhibiting dissolution of akaganéite; to a lesser extent, they interfered with the nucleation of goethite. Silicate modified the morphology of goethite, but not hematite.

Comparison of the transformation behavior of akaganéite with that previously observed for ferrihydrite indicated that the composition of the reaction product depended strongly on the transformation conditions, i.e., pH and the presence of foreign species. The nature of the solid precursor was important insofar as its degree of crystallinity governed the dissolution kinetics and its surface properties influenced interaction with any foreign species in the system.