THE MECHANISM OF PHOSPHATE ADSORPTION BY KAOLINITE, GIBBSITE, AND PSEUDOBOEHMITE

Abstract

Summary The adsorption isotherms (20°C) of phosphate on two potassium kaolinites and two aluminium oxides have been determined at pH values from 3 to 10 and at concentrations ranging from 10 −4 to 10 −2 M. The reversibility of the adsorption with respect to pH and concentration has also been examined. The isotherms result from at least three types of adsorption site (regions I, II, and III) of widely different reactivities. The number of adsorption sites increases to a limit with decrease in pH for regions I and II. The behaviour of region III is more complex. The different adsorbents behave in essentially the same manner and differ only in the number of adsorption sites. It is tentatively suggested that regions I and II are located on an edge –Al(OH) 2 of the adsorbents, while region III results from penetration into some amorphous region of the crystal surface.