Effect of Phosphate Addition on Cadmium Precipitation and Adsorption in Contaminated Arable Soil with a Low Concentration of Cadmium

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 95; no. 5; pp. 675 - 679
• Main Authors: Kim, Sung Un, Owens, Vance N., Kim, Yong Gyun, Lee, Sang Mong, Park, Hyean Cheal, Kim, Keun Ki, Son, Hong Joo, Hong, Chang Oh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-11-2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aquatic Pollution; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - chemistry; Chemical Precipitation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Phosphates; Phosphates - analysis; Phosphates - chemistry; Pollution; Republic of Korea; Soil - chemistry; Soil - standards; Soil contamination; Soil pH; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Solubility; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Cd minerals; Cadmium; Precipitation; Adsorption; Phosphate
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-015-1621-6

The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the phosphorus (P) level required to induce cadmium (Cd) precipitation in a contaminated arable soil with low concentrations of Cd and (2) the primary mechanism of Cd immobilization at different P levels. Phosphorus was added at levels of 0 800, 1600, and 16,000 mg P kg
−1
to a soil containing 5.57 mg Cd kg
−1
. The concentration of 1 M NH
4
OAc extractable Cd decreased significantly with P levels up to 1600 mg kg
−1
due to an increase in soil pH and negative charge of soil (
p
 < 0.001). A further decrease in 1 M NH
4
OAc extractable Cd concentration was noted when P was increased to 16,000 mg P kg
−1
and may have been the result of Cd precipitation. This study suggest that adding P at high levels may help in the formation of geochemically stable Cd minerals in soil containing low levels of this heavy metal.