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Mechanisms of phosphate retention by calcite: effects of magnesium and pH

  • SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Sorption and precipitation of phosphate are important processes in controlling fate of phosphorus (P) in P-fertilized soils, especially those affected by magnesium (Mg) ions.

Materials and methods

The interaction between Mg(II) (0.42 and 8.33 mM) ions and phosphate (0.32 and 6.45 mM) at the calcite–water interface were investigated with various pH values from 6.0 to 12.0, using a combination of sorption envelopes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.

Results and discussion

Amorphous calcium phosphate, dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate, and hydroxyapatite are formed at high phosphate concentration (6.45 mM) and high pH (>8.0). The presence of low Mg(II) ion level (0.42 mM) had little effect on phosphate sorption. When Mg(II) ions increased to 8.33 mM, phosphate retention was inhibited in the weak acid condition since incorporation of Mg(II) ions kinetically hinders precipitation resulting in greater solubility of calcium phosphate while high pH favors Mg adsorption to provide more =Mg sites and OH functional groups on the surface of calcite, which enhanced the formation of Mg–P phases. The likely mechanism is attributed to the different surface terminations of calcite sorbed by phosphate at pH < 8.0 and pH > 8.0 in the presence of Mg(II) ions.

Conclusions

Our experimental results suggested that soil pH, initial concentration of phosphate, and the presence of Mg(II) ions and calcite play an important role to affect the fate of phosphate in P-fertilized soils.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 21107077, 21377090, and 21071107), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province ((grant no. BK20131152), and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD). The authors thank Dr. Taoyun Wang, Dr. Hongying Cheng, Shuling Dong, and li Li for their support with the analytical needs of the project respectively and Peter Malczyk for his collaboration in the production of the manuscript. The authors would also like to acknowledge the insightful comments of anonymous reviews in the production of the manuscript.

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  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Functional Materials, School of Chemistry Biology and Material Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Nan Xu, Hongwei Yin, Zhigang Chen, Shouqing Liu, Ming Chen & Jie Zhang

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  1. Nan Xu
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  2. Hongwei Yin
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Correspondence to Nan Xu.

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Responsible editor: Hailong Wang

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Xu, N., Yin, H., Chen, Z. et al. Mechanisms of phosphate retention by calcite: effects of magnesium and pH. J Soils Sediments 14, 495–503 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0807-y

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