Laboratory batch experiments were conducted to study arsenic (As) removal from a naturally contaminated soil using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KHEPO4). Both H3PO4 and KHEPO4 proved to reduce toxicity of the soil in terms of soil As content, attaining more than 20% As removal at a concentration of 200 mmol/L. At the same time, acidification of soil and dissolution of soil components (Ca, Mg, and Si) resulted from using these two extractants, especially H3PO4. The effectiveness of these two extractants could be attributed to the replacement of As by phosphate ions (PO4^3-). The function of H3PO4 as an acid to dissolve soil components had little effects on As removal. KH2PO4 almost removed as much As as H3PO4, but it did not result in serious damage to soils, indicating that it was a more promising extractant. The results of a kinetic study showed that As removal reached equilibrium after incubation for 360 rain, but dissolution of soil components, especially Mg and Ca, was very rapid. Therefore dissolution of soil components would be inevitable if As was further removed. Elovich model best described the kinetic data of As removal among the four models used in the kinetic study.
ZENG MinLIAO BohanLEI MingZHANG YongZENG QingruOUYANG Bin
A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of an anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate(LAS) application on cadmium(Cd)fractions in soils and Cd distribution in different tissues of soybean(Glycine max)plants as well as soil pH.Soil samples were treated with three levels of Cd(0,5,and 10 mg kg^(-1))and five levels of LAS(0,5, 15,50,and 100 mg L^(-1)).Results indicated that compared to the control soils(no Cd and no LAS treatment),soil pH increased and available Cd decreased in the soil treated with external Cd and watered with LAS solutions.Meanwhile, soil exchangeable Cd and Cd bound to carbonates decreased;Cd bound to amorphous iron and manganese oxides and Cd bound to organic matter increased.In addition,LAS application could reduce enrichment of Cd in soybean plants, resulting in decreased Cd in the soybean plants.Thus,suitable LAS application could decrease bioavailability and mobility of soil Cd.