Mutual effects of fluoride and phosphate on their adsorption and desorption in fluoride-contaminated softs

Phosphate is one of the important nutrients for plant growth. In acidic and highly weathered soils, phosphate is ready to adsorb on Al and Fe oxides and transform into sparsely soluble Fe-P and Al-P solid phases, greatly reducing phosphate bioavailability. Aluminum and iron oxides in soils are important sinks for both phosphate and fluoride. In acidic soils, fluoride adsorption can dramatically facilitate dissolution of Al- and Fe-containing phases, which may influence the distribution and migration of both pollutants and nutrients including phosphate. To date, little information is available on mutual effects of fluoride and phosphate in fluoride-contaminated acidic soils. The objective of this study is to evaluate mutual effects of fluoride and phosphate on their adsorption/desorption in red soil, collected fi＇om Yingtan, Jiangxi Province, China, using a batch equilibrium method. The following results and conclusions were obtained. In heavily fluoride-contaminated soils, the adsorption of both fluoride and phosphate decreases with an increase in solution pH. Phosphate adsorption decreases progressively with increasing concentration of fluoride, suggesting that fluoride competes with phosphate for adsorption sites.

Mutual effects of fluoride and phosphate on their adsorption and desorption in fluoride-contaminated softs