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Adsorption of phosphonates onto the goethite-water interface

Journal Article · · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
;  [1]
  1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States). Dept. of Geography and Environmental Engineering

The adsorption of one phosphonate, two hydroxyphosphonates, and five aminophosphonates onto the iron (hydr)oxide goethite ({alpha}-FeOOH) has been studied as a function of pH. At phosphonate concentrations significantly lower than the total number of available surface sites, nearly 100% adsorption is observed below pH 8.0. Adsorption decreases to negligible levels as the pH is increased to 12.0. Under the conditions just described, adsorption of nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) as a function of pH is nearly independent of the ionic strength (from 1 nM to 1 M). At phosphonate concentrations close to the total number of available surface sites, adsorption decreases over a broader range in pH and reflects the number of phosphonate groups. At pH 7.2, the maximum extent of adsorption decreases as the number of phosphonate groups increases from one to five. Adsorption is modeled using a 2-pK constant capacitance model that postulates formation of a 1:1 surface complex involving one surface site and one phosphonate functional group. Denoting the fully deprotonated phosphonate ligand as L{sup a{minus}}, different protonation levels for adsorbed phosphonate species are represented by a series of equilibrium constants. For a phosphonate of charge a{minus}, there are (a {minus} 1) possible surface protonation levels. For a surface protonation level n, log {beta}{sub n,surf} values derived from this modeling approach are related to the surface complex charge Z. Using this approach, adsorption as a function of phosphonate concentration and pH can be fully accounted for.

OSTI ID:
352701
Journal Information:
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Name: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 214; ISSN 0021-9797; ISSN JCISA5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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