Skip to main content

Tungstate adsorption onto Italian soils with different characteristics

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 189, Article number: 379 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

The study of tungsten in the environment is currently of considerable interest because of the growing concerns resulting from its possible toxicity and carcinogenicity. Adsorption reactions are some of the fundamental processes governing the fate and transport of tungsten compounds in soil. This paper reports data on the adsorption of tungstate ions in three different Italian soils, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean region. The results show that pH is the most important factor governing the adsorption of tungstate in these soils. The data interpreted according to the Langmuir equation show that the maximum value of adsorption is approximately 30 mmol kg−1 for the most acidic soil (pH = 4.50) and approximately 9 mmol kg−1 for the most basic soil (pH = 7.40). In addition, soil organic matter is shown to play a fundamental role in adsorption processes, which are favored in soils with a higher organic matter content. The data could contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of tungsten compounds in Italian soils for which current knowledge is very scarce, also in view of environmental regulations, which are currently lacking.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Bednar, A. J., Boyd, R. E., Jones, W. T., McGrath, C. J., Johnson, D. R., Chappell, M. A., & Ringelberg, D. B. (2009). Investigations of tungsten mobility in soil using column tests. Chemosphere, 75(8), 1049–1056.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bednar, A. J., Jones, W. T., Chappell, M. A., Johnson, D. R., & Ringelberg, D. B. (2010). A modified acid digestion procedure for extraction of tungsten from soil. Talanta, 80(3), 1257–1263.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt, A. S., Sakaria, P. L., Vasudevan, M., Pawar, R. R., Sudheesh, N., Bajaj, H. C., & Mody, H. M. (2012). Adsorption of an anionic dye from aqueous medium by organoclays: equilibrium modeling, kinetic and thermodynamic exploration. RSC Advances, 2(23), 8663–8671.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cihacek, L. J., & Bremner, J. M. (1979). A simplified ethylene glycol monoethyl ether procedure for assessment of soil surface area. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 43, 821–822.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clausen, J. L., & Korte, N. (2009). Environmental fate of tungsten from military use. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 2887–2893.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruywagen, J. J. (2000). Protonation, oligomerization, and condensation reactions ofvanadate (V), molybdate (VI), and tungstate (VI). In A. G. Sykes (Ed.), Advances in inorganic chemistry (pp. 127–182). San Diego: Academic Press Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Davantès, A., Costa, D., & Lefèvre, G. (2015). Infrared study of (poly)tungstate ions in solution and Sorbed into layered double hydroxides: vibrational calculations and in situ analysis. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 119, 12356–12364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dermatas, D., Braida, W., Christodoulatos, C., Strigul, N., Panikov, N., Los, M., & Larson, S. (2004). Solubility, sorption, and soil respiration effects of tungsten and tungsten alloys. Environmental Forensics, 5(1), 5–13.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit, S., & Hering, J. G. (2003). Comparison of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) sorption onto iron oxide minerals: implications for arsenic mobility. Environmental Science & Technology, 37(18), 4182–4189.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • EPA Technical Fact Sheet –Tungsten January 2014.

  • EU COM (2012) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions—the implementation of the Soil Thematic Strategy and ongoing activities Brussels, 13.2.2012 COM(2012) 46 final.

  • Gee, G. W., & Bauder, J. W. (1986). Particle-size analysis. In A. Klute (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. Physical and mineralogical methods. Agronomy monograph no. 9 (2nd ed., pp. 383–411). American Society of Agronomy/Soil Science Society of America: Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles, C. H., Smith, D., & Huitson, A. (1974). A general treatment and classification of the solute adsorption isotherm. I. Theoretical. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 47(3), 755–765.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, D. (1953). The characterization of physical adsorption systems. I. The equilibrium function and standard free energy of adsorption. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 57, 665–669.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafsson, J. P. (2003). Modelling molybdate and tungstate adsorption to ferrihydrite. Chemical Geology, 200(1–2), 105–115.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, K. R., Eagleton, L. C., Acrivos, A., & Vermeulen, T. (1966). Pore-and solid diffusion kinetics in fixed-bed adsorption under constant-pattern conditions. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, 5, 212–223.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, K. F., Papelis, C., & Leckie, J. O. (1988). Modeling ionic strength effects on anion adsorption at hydrous oxide/solution interfaces. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 125(2), 717–726.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hingston, F. J., Posner, A. M., & Quirk, J. P. (1974). Anion adsorption by goethite and gibbsite. II. Desorption of anions from hydrous oxide surfaces. Journal of Soil Science, 15, 16–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y. S., Huang, C. T., & Huang, H. W. (2002). Equilibrium sorption isotherm for metal ions on tree fern. Process Biochemistry, 37, 1421–1430.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W., & Weber, W. J. (1997). A distributed reactivity model for sorption by soils and sediments. 10. Relationships between desorption, hysteresis, and the chemical characteristics of organic domains. Environmental Science & Technology, 31, 2562–2569.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hur, H., & Reeder, R. J. (2016). Tungstate sorption mechanisms on boehmite: systematic uptake studies and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 461, 249–260.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal, M. J., & Ashiq, M. N. (2007). Adsorption of dyes from aqueous solutions on activated charcoal. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 139, 57–66.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson, K. H., Dave, H. B., Mohajerin, T. J., & Datta, S. (2013). Controls on tungsten concentrations in groundwater flow systems: the role of adsorption, aquifer sediment Fe(III) oxide/oxyhydroxide content, and thiotungstate formation. Chemical Geology, 351, 76–94.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. R., Inouye, L. S., Bednar, A. J., Clarke, J. U., Winfield, L. E., Boyd, R. E., & Ang, C. Y. (2009). Tungsten bioavailability and toxicity in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). Land Contamination and Reclamation, 17, 141–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, A. D. R., Lemaire, M., Young, Y. K., Eustache, J. H., Guilbert, C., Molina, M. F., & Mann, K. K. (2013). In vivo tungsten exposure alters B-cell development and increases DNA damage in murine bone marrow. Toxicological Sciences, 131, 434–446.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, A. J., Johnson, D. R., Seiter, J. M., Lindsay, J. H., Boyd, R. E., Bednar, A. J., & Allison, P. G. (2012). Tungsten toxicity, bioaccumulation, and compartmentalization into organisms representing two trophic levels. Environmental Science and Technology, 46(17), 9646–9652.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsospyros, A., Braida, W. J., Christodoulatos, C., Dermatas, D., & Strigul, N. S. (2006). A review of tungsten: From environmental obscurity to scrutiny. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 136, 1–19.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsospyros, A. D., Strigul, N., Braida, W., & Christodoulatos, C. (2011). Tungsten: environmental pollution and health effects. In J. O. Nriagu (Ed.), Encyclopedia of environmental health (pp. 418–426). Burlington: Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Laulicht, F., Brocato, J., Cartularo, L., Vaughan, J., Wu, F., Kluz, T., Sun, H., Oksuz, B. A., Shen, S., Peana, M., Medici, S., Zoroddu, M. A., & Costa, M. (2015). Tungsten-induced carcinogenesis in human bronchial epithelial cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 288, 33–39.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, R., Chunye, L., & Xitao, L. (2016). Adsorption of tungstate on kaolinite: adsorption models and kinetics. RSC Advances, 6, 19872–19877.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, R., Luan, R., Lin, C., Jiao, D., & Guo, B. (2014). Tungstate adsorption onto oxisols in the vicinity of the world’s largest and longest-operating tungsten mine in China. RSC Advances, 4, 63875–63881.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C., Li, R., Cheng, H., Wang, J., & Shao, X. (2014). Tungsten distribution in soil and rice in the vicinity of the world’s largest and longest-operating tungsten mine in China. PloS One, 9(1–8), e91981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malik, P. K. (2004). Dye removal from wastewater using activated carbon developed from sawdust: adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 113, 81–88.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBride, M. B. (1994). Environmental chemistry of soils. New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Mellis, E. V., Casagrande, J. C., Soares, M. R., Pessôa da Cruz, M. C., & de Camargo, O. A. (2012). Sorption of heavy metals in tropical soils. In H. M. Selim (Ed.), Competitive sorption and transport of heavy metals in soils and geological media (pp. 171–214). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mouta, E. R., Soares, M. R., & Casagrande, J. C. (2008). Copper adsorption as a function of solution parameters of variable charge soils. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 19(5), 996–1009.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. W., & Sommers, L. E. (1996). Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods (pp. 961–1010). Madison: Soil Science Society of America book series. Soil Science Society of America Inc..

  • Ozcan, A., Oncu, E. M., & Ozcan, A. S. (2006). Adsorption of Acid Blue 193 from aqueous solutions onto DEDMA-sepiolite. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 129, 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozcan, A. S., Tetik, S., & Ozcan, A. (2004). Adsorption of acid dyes from aqueous solutions onto sepiolite. Separation Science and Technology, 39, 301–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, S., Sallman, B., Davantés, A., & Lefèvre, G. (2017). Tungstate (VI) sorption on hematite: an in situ ATR-FTIR probe on the mechanism. Chemosphere, 168, 685–691.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ringelberg, D. B., Reynolds, C. M., Winfield, L. E., Inouye, L. S., Johnson, D. R., & Bednar, A. J. (2009). Tungsten effects on microbial community structure and activity in a soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 38, 103–110.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seiler, R. L., Stollenwerk, K. G., & Garbarino, J. R. (2005). Factors controlling tungsten concentrations in ground water, Carson Desert, Nevada. Applied Geochemistry, 20(2), 423–441.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen Tuna, G., & Braida, W. (2014). Evaluation of the adsorption of mono- and poly- tungstates onto different types of clay minerals and Pahokee peat. Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 23(8), 838–849.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senesi, N., Padovano, G., & Brunetti, G. (1988). Scandium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium content in commercial inorganic fertilizers and their contribution to soil. Environmental Technology Letters, 9, 1011–1020.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shedd, K. B. (2011). Tungsten U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2011 pp. 176–177.

  • Sheppard, P. R., Ridenour, G., Speakman, R. J., & Witten, M. L. (2006). Elevated tungsten and cobalt in airborne particulates in Fallon, Nevada: possible implications for the childhood leukemia cluster. Applied Geochemistry, 21, 152–165.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard, P. R., Speakman, R. J., Ridenour, G., & Witten, M. I. (2007). Using lichen chemistry to assess airborne tungsten and cobalt in Fallon, Nevada. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 130, 511–518.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strigul, N., Koutsospyros, A., Arienti, P., Christodoulatos, C., Dermatas, D., & Braida, W. (2005). Effects of tungsten on environmental systems. Chemosphere, 61, 248–258.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J., & Bostick, B. C. (2015). Effects of tungstate polymerization on tungsten(VI) adsorption on ferrihydrite. Chemical Geology, 417, 21–31.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, G. W. (1996). Soil pH and soil acidity. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods (pp. 475–490). Madison: Soil Science Society of America book series. Soil Science Society of America Inc.

  • Vissenberg, M. J., Joosten, L. J. M., Heffels, M. M. E. H., van Welsenes, A. J., de Beer, V. H. J., van Santen, R. A., & van Veen, J. A. R. (2000). Tungstate versus molybdate adsorption on oxidic surfaces: a chemical approach. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 104(35), 8456–8461.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werner, A. B. T., Sinclair, W. D., & Amey, E. B. (1998). International strategic mineral issues summary report—Tungsten (U.S. Geological Survey Circular 930–O). Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wik, A., Lycken, J., & Dave, G. (2008). Sediment quality assessment of road runoff detention systems in Sweden and the potential contribution of tire wear. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 194, 301–314.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., & Selim, H. M. (2005). Kinetics of arsenate adsorption—desorption in soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 39, 6101–6108.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors thank Irene Rosellini and Mia Mazzotta for technical assistance. This study was supported by the Italian National Research Council.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy

    Gianniantonio Petruzzelli & Francesca Pedron

Authors
  1. Gianniantonio Petruzzelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesca Pedron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gianniantonio Petruzzelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Petruzzelli, G., Pedron, F. Tungstate adsorption onto Italian soils with different characteristics. Environ Monit Assess 189, 379 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6088-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6088-y

Keywords

  • Tungstate
  • Batch adsorption
  • Langmuir equation
  • Soil characteristics