Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of Fe/Al oxides on desorption of Cd2+ from soils and minerals as related to diffuse layer overlapping

Yan-ping Wang A B , Ren-kou Xu A C and Jiu-yu Li A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 821, Nanjing, China.

B Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.

C Corresponding author. Email: rkxu@issas.ac.cn

Soil Research 49(3) 231-237 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR10148
Submitted: 19 July 2010  Accepted: 8 October 2010   Published: 12 April 2011

Abstract

Cadmium is a toxic metal with high reactivity in acid variable charge soils. Adsorption and desorption of Cd2+ in soil and mineral particles can be affected by the interaction between the electrical double layers on oppositely charged particles, because the interaction can decrease the surface-charge density of the particles. We studied the effect of Fe/Al oxides on desorption of Cd2+ from soils and minerals and proposed the desorption mechanisms based on the overlapping of diffuse layers between negatively charged soils and mineral particles and positively charged Fe/Al oxide particles. Our results indicate that the overlapping of diffuse layers of electrical double layers between positively charged Fe/Al oxides [crystalline and amorphous Al(OH)3 and amorphous Fe(OH)3] and negatively charged Ultisol, Alfisol, kaolinite, and bentonite caused the effective negative surface-charge density on the soils and minerals to become less negative, and thus the adsorption affinity of these negatively charged surfaces for Cd2+ declined as a result of the incorporation of the Fe/Al oxides. Consequently, the release of exchangeable Cd2+ from the surfaces of the soils and minerals increased with the amount of Fe/Al oxides added. The more positive the charge on the surfaces of the Fe/Al oxides, the stronger the interaction of the electrical double layers between the oxides and soils and minerals, and thus the greater the release of Cd2+ from the soils and minerals. A decrease in pH led to an increase in the positive surface charge on the Fe/Al oxides and enhancement of the interaction of the electrical double layers between the oxides and soils and minerals. As a result, more Cd2+ was desorbed from the soils and minerals. This study suggests that the interaction between oppositely charged particles of variable charge soils can enhance the mobility of cadmium in the soils and thus increase its environmental risk.

Additional keywords: amorphous Al(OH)3, amorphous Fe(OH)3, crystalline Al(OH)3, electrical double layer, surface charge, variable charge soil.


References

Ainsworth CC, Pilon JL, Gassman PL, Van Der Sluys WG (1994) Cobalt, cadmium, and lead sorption to hydrous iron oxide: residence time effect. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 1615–1623.
Cobalt, cadmium, and lead sorption to hydrous iron oxide: residence time effect.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXitlequ7c%3D&md5=23fba60b822a11c1abd60cbada17821dCAS |

Atkinson RJ, Posner AM, Quirk JP (1967) Adsorption of potential-determining ions at the ferric oxide–aqueous electrolyte interface. Physical Chemistry 71, 550–558.
Adsorption of potential-determining ions at the ferric oxide–aqueous electrolyte interface.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF2sXmvFansw%3D%3D&md5=a969031fadb4a37c4ce624b98eb4fe0dCAS |

Backes CA, McLaren RG, Rate AW, Swift RS (1995) Kinetics of cadmium and cobalt desorption from iron and manganese oxides. Soil Science Society of America Journal 59, 778–785.
Kinetics of cadmium and cobalt desorption from iron and manganese oxides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlvFyqsLo%3D&md5=328431fee869222aef9d14a3fca3dc26CAS |

Bruemmer GW, Gerth J, Herms U (1986) Heavy metal species, mobility and availability in soils. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde 149, 382–398.
Heavy metal species, mobility and availability in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xls1Kgsr4%3D&md5=9fc93f856cbfc67629b23c5d555a3942CAS |

Bruemmer GW, Gerth J, Tiller KG (1988) Reaction kinetics of the adsorption and desorption of nickel, zinc and cadmium by goethite. I. Adsorption and diffusion of metals. Journal of Soil Science 39, 37–52.
Reaction kinetics of the adsorption and desorption of nickel, zinc and cadmium by goethite. I. Adsorption and diffusion of metals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXit1Sru7k%3D&md5=28cf8ae1e8c6553994ac25b4cfd0c1efCAS |

Hendershot WH, Lavkulich LM (1983) Effect of sesquioxide coatings on surface charge of standard mineral and soil samples. Soil Science Society of America Journal 47, 1252–1260.
Effect of sesquioxide coatings on surface charge of standard mineral and soil samples.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXlsVyqtA%3D%3D&md5=36af0403fc802e5b1bfff51213845664CAS |

Hou T, Xu RK, Tiwari D, Zhao AZ (2007b) Interaction between electrical double layers of soil colloids and Fe/Al oxides in suspensions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 310, 670–674.
Interaction between electrical double layers of soil colloids and Fe/Al oxides in suspensions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXks12ju7w%3D&md5=8a334d5836653c4ecff92e0688f85ccfCAS | 17382341PubMed |

Hou T, Xu RK, Zhao AZ (2007a) Interaction between electric double layers of kaolinite and Fe/Al oxides in suspensions. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 297, 91–94.
Interaction between electric double layers of kaolinite and Fe/Al oxides in suspensions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXitFekurc%3D&md5=a4e65baa887d08db034f1b88fb83a021CAS |

Huang PM, Wang TSC, Wang MK, Wu MH, Hsu NW (1977) Retention of phenolic acids by noncrystalline hydroxy-aluminum and iron compounds and clay minerals of soils. Soil Science 123, 213–219.
Retention of phenolic acids by noncrystalline hydroxy-aluminum and iron compounds and clay minerals of soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE2sXktVCls7k%3D&md5=cbdfa548349d41ee1d4fc5e175275cd1CAS |

Kyle JH, Posner AM, Quirk JP (1975) Kinetics of isotopic exchange of phosphate adsorbed on gibbsite. Soil Science 26, 32–43.
Kinetics of isotopic exchange of phosphate adsorbed on gibbsite.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE2MXkslOnur8%3D&md5=701c13572a5df91174c29a1873bd795aCAS |

Li SZ, Xu RK (2008) Electrical double layer’s interaction between oppositely charged particles as related to surface charge density and ionic strength. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 326, 157–161.
Electrical double layer’s interaction between oppositely charged particles as related to surface charge density and ionic strength.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXps1ers7o%3D&md5=aec86a58fb0d9fa6d6ab277aba203c79CAS |

Li SZ, Xu RK, Li JY (2009) Electrical-double layer interaction between oppositely charged particles in variable charge soils as related to salt adsorption. Soil Science 174, 27–34.
Electrical-double layer interaction between oppositely charged particles in variable charge soils as related to salt adsorption.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXkvVWgsw%3D%3D&md5=864bb47c9bc7bc458640e99a1c63320eCAS |

McLaren RG, Backes CA, Rate AW, Swift RS (1998) Cadmium and cobalt desorption kinetics from soil clays: effect of sorption period. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 332–337.
Cadmium and cobalt desorption kinetics from soil clays: effect of sorption period.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXivF2jt7g%3D&md5=2ed988f5daf3ac5f8ded31ee2b6ad531CAS |

Naidu R, Kookana RS, Sumner ME, Harter RD, Tiller KG (1997) Cadmium sorption and transport in variable charge soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 26, 602–617.
Cadmium sorption and transport in variable charge soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjsVCmt7w%3D&md5=80ed848bec5b8fe9da370c544aa347c3CAS |

Naidu R, Sumner ME, Harter RD (1998) Sorption of heavy metals in strongly weathered soils. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 20, 5–9.
Sorption of heavy metals in strongly weathered soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXisVGqt7c%3D&md5=c200e1612c226245b39b78eaf8b66c56CAS |

Parks GA, de Bruyn PL (1962) The zero point of charge of oxides. Physical Chemistry 66, 967–973.
The zero point of charge of oxides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF38Xkt1Ojtro%3D&md5=72500d0ac0c69cb2c96c7a9c4eef101bCAS |

Qafoku NP, Ranst EV, Noble A, Baert G (2004) Variable charge soils: their mineralogy, chemistry and management. Advances in Agronomy 84, 159–215.
Variable charge soils: their mineralogy, chemistry and management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXnvVynsQ%3D%3D&md5=ddb58c7614c55a881050b2b6e0720732CAS |

Qafoku NP, Sumner ME (2002) Adsorption and desorption of indifferent ions in variable charge subsoil: the effect of particle interactions on the counter-ion charge density. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 1231–1239.
Adsorption and desorption of indifferent ions in variable charge subsoil: the effect of particle interactions on the counter-ion charge density.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlslOrtr8%3D&md5=158e25e57e77775935edd77d0854c5caCAS |

Tombácz E, Libor Z, Illés E, Majzik A, Klumpp E (2004) The role of reactive surface sites and complexation by humic acids in the interaction of clay mineral and iron oxide particles. Organic Geochemistry 35, 257–267.
The role of reactive surface sites and complexation by humic acids in the interaction of clay mineral and iron oxide particles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van Raij B, Peech M (1972) Electrochemical properties of some Oxisols and Alfisols of the tropics. Soil Science Society of America Journal 36, 587–593.
Electrochemical properties of some Oxisols and Alfisols of the tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE38XkvFWht7k%3D&md5=8b350985f9c25699f05676fde87a8d60CAS |

Xu RK, Li JY, Xiao SC (2009) Effect of interaction between negative and positive surface charge of soil particles on soil acidification. In ‘Plant–soil interactions at low pH: a nutriomic approach’. (Eds H Liao, XL Yan, L Kochian) pp. 11–12. (South China University of Technology Press: Guangzhou, China)

Yu TR (1997) ‘Chemistry of variable charge soils.’ (Oxford University Press: New York)