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Competitive adsorption of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by different soils of Eastern China

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Simultaneous competitive adsorption behavior of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn onto nine soils with a wide physical–chemical characteristics from Eastern China was measured in batch experiments to assess the mobility and retention of these metals in soils. In the competitive adsorption system, adsorption isotherms for these metals on the soils exhibited significant differences in shape and in the amount adsorbed. As the applied concentration increased, Cu and Pb adsorption increased, while Cd and Zn adsorption decreased. Competition among heavy metals is very strong in acid soils with lower capacity to adsorb metal cations. Distribution coefficients (K dmedium) for each metal and soil were calculated. The highest K dmedium value was found for Pb and followed by Cu. However, low K dmedium values were shown for Zn and Cd. On the basis of the K dmedium values, the selectivity sequence of the metal adsorption is Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd and Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn. The adsorption sequence of nine soils was deduced from the joint distribution coefficients (K dΣmedium). This indicated that acid soils with low pH value had lower adsorption capacity for heavy metals, resulting in much higher risk of heavy metal pollution. The sum of adsorbed heavy metals on the soils could well described using the Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q m) of soils ranged from 32.57 to 90.09 mmol kg−1. Highly significant positive correlations were found between the K dΣmedium and Q m of the metals and pH value and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil, suggesting that soil pH and CEC were key factors controlling the solubility and mobility of the metals in soils.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2005CB121104) and Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (2006C12027).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Subtropical Soil and Plant Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    S. G. Lu & Q. F. Xu

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  1. S. G. Lu
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  2. Q. F. Xu
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Correspondence to S. G. Lu.

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Lu, S.G., Xu, Q.F. Competitive adsorption of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by different soils of Eastern China . Environ Geol 57, 685–693 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1347-4

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