Sorption of P by ferric hydroxide film, cover particles of sediments of Lake Baikal

We investigated in more detail the adsorption phenomenon which was described earlier. It was clearly established that the hydroxyl apatite was not participated in P adsorption. This phenomenon takes place because of ferric hydroxide film. Modem sediments from the Southem Basin of Lake Baikal were taken and stirred with Baikal water. Carrier-free ^32p]-orthophosphate was added in this system. Similar experiments were made with carrier-free ^35S]-sulphate. Sulphate stayed in supematant completely. The influence of pH on the system with inorganic phosphate was also studied. In low alkali conditions phosphate migrated in supematant, in low acid, in sediments. Baikal sediment was stripped of iron-hydroxous film by treatment with 1% oxalic acid. Investigation of striped sediment shown that phosphate stays in supematant only. Hence, hydroxyl apatite cannot be the phase of the sediments of Lake Baikal which binds phosphate. This all showed by our group before. Now we have found the limit of phosphate sorption in Lake Baikal sediments and the stehiometry of the sorption. The sorption limit of Lake Baikal sediments was studied. An experiment with inorganic ^31P phosphate was made. 0.025% K2HPO4 solution with adding ^32P radioactive mark into it was prepared. 100 μL of mixture of ^31PO4^3- and ^32PO4^3- seven times were added in a ＂Baikal water-Baikal sediment＂ system and blank （100 ml BW only）. Concentrations of inorganic ^31PO4^3- were very low so the bend dot on the diagram was found and sorption limit of sediment was estimated. Baikal sediment stopped assimilating phosphate in the bend dot. The stehiometry of sorption was estimated by supematant-sediment radioactive ratio, which equals 3, that is, three Fe （Ⅲ） atoms associate one PO4^3- anion. The only Fe （Ⅲ） substance which could associate P is -Fe-O-Fe- polymer film. It also dissolves in acid conditions.

Sorption of P by ferric hydroxide film, cover particles of sediments of Lake Baikal