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Phosphate-induced differences in stabilization efficiency for soils contaminated with lead, zinc, and cadmium

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Abstract

Phosphates can cost-effectively decrease the mobility of Pb in contaminated soils. However, Pb always coexists with other metals in soil, their competitive reactions with phosphates have not been tested. In this study, the abilities of KH2PO4, K2HPO4, and K3PO4 to stabilize Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils contaminated with a single metal or a ternary metal for different phosphorus/metal molar ratios were investigated. Results indicated that the stabilization efficiency of KH2PO4, K2HPO4, and K3PO4 for Pb, Zn, and Cd in single metal contaminated soil (P/M ratio 0.6) was 96.00%–98.74%, 33.76%–47.81%, and 9.50%–55.79%, respectively. Competitive stabilization occurred in the ternary system, Pb exhibited a strong competition, the stabilization efficiency of Zn and Cd reduced by 23.50%–31.64%, and 7.10%–39.26%, respectively. Pyromorphite and amorphous lead phosphate formed with excess KH2PO4 or K2HPO4 addition, while K3PO4 resulted in the formation of a hydroxypyromorphite precipitate. Amorphous Zn and Cd phosphates and hydroxides were the primary products. The immobilization rate of Zn and Cd depends on pH, and increased significantly in response to the excess phosphate application. This approach provides insight into phosphate-induced differences in stabilization efficiency in soils contaminated with multiple metals, which is of theoretical and engineering significance.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National High Technology Research & Development Program of China (Grant No. 2013AA06A206) and the Environmental Protection Special Scientific Research Fund for Chinese Public Welfare Industry (No. 201509048).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Jie Ren, Zhuo Zhang, Mei Wang & Fasheng Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Jie Ren, Zhuo Zhang, Mei Wang, Guanlin Guo, Ping Du & Fasheng Li

Authors
  1. Jie Ren
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  2. Zhuo Zhang
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  3. Mei Wang
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  4. Guanlin Guo
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Correspondence to Ping Du or Fasheng Li.

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Ren, J., Zhang, Z., Wang, M. et al. Phosphate-induced differences in stabilization efficiency for soils contaminated with lead, zinc, and cadmium. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 12, 10 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-018-1006-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-018-1006-2

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