The Effect of Electrolyte Type and Concentration on the Release of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in Some Contaminated Calcareous Soils

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the results of desorption experiments of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) from some contaminated calcareous soils under four electrolyte types (CaCl₂, MgCl₂, NaCl and Na₂SO₄) with different electrolyte concentrations (0.5, 4 and 10 mM). Among electrolytes, CaCl₂ significantly released more metals from soils. There was a negative relationship between total Cu and Zn content and percentage of Cu and Zn released (average of electrolyte concentrations) using CaCl₂ solution, indicating a higher Cu and Zn released when their total content was low. Generally, Cd, Cu, and Zn speciation was affected by both type of electrolytes and their concentrations, whereas Ni speciation stayed mostly stable and was almost unaffected by applied solutions. It can be suggested that beside competition with cations, chloro-complexation is important parameter in Cd release, while CuOH⁺, and to some extent ZnOH⁺ are important species affecting release of Cu and Zn. The distribution coefficient (K_d) values for each metals greatly varied with the types of electrolytes and electrolyte concentration. On the basis of average percentage of metal released under different electrolytes and concentrations the following sequences was found: Cd > Cu > Ni > Zn. The results are important in understanding the mobility of metals under different solutions and indicating that, Cd and Zn soils may pose a higher and lower mobility and ecological risk in contaminated calcareous soils, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• electrolyte
• heavy metals
• release
• mobility
• speciation
• environmental risk assessment