The influence of metal ions on the adsorption of phosphonates onto goethite

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es9900860· OSTI ID:20000737

Nowack, B; Stone, A T

Mono- and polyphosphonates, which contain R{sub 3}CP(O)-(OH){sub 2} functional groups, are used in an increasing variety of industrial and household applications including cooling water systems, oil production, textile production, and detergents. The main pathway of phosphonate removal in the environment is via adsorption onto surfaces. This study examines the effect of Ca, Cu, Zn, and Fe{sup III} on the adsorption of six phosphonates onto the iron (hydr)oxide goethite. HEDP, NTMP, EDTMP, and DTPMP are commonly used, while AMP and IDMP have been identified a breakdown products of NTMP. When the molar concentration of Ca, Cu, Zn, and Fe{sup III} is equal to the concentration of the phosphonate, the effects on phosphonate adsorption are either negligible or slight. This can be explained by dissociation of the metal-phosphonate complex and separate adsorption of the metal ion and phosphonate onto different surface sites. When Ca and Zn concentrations are added in excess of the phosphonate concentrations, considerable increases in adsorption are observed, presumably through ternary surface complex formation and adsorption onto precipitated (hydr)oxides of Zn. Excess Ca concentrations can double the maximum surface coverage of NTMP. Phosphonate adsorption at low pH deposits negative charge on (hydr)oxide surfaces and hence increases Cu adsorption through favorable long-range electrostatic interactions.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (US)
• OSTI ID: 20000737
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 33; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER
GOETHITE
IRON
PHOSPHONATES
POLLUTION CONTROL
REMEDIAL ACTION
ZINC