Phosphate Adsorption on γ-Alumina: A Surface Complex Model Based on Surface Characterization and Zeta Potential Measurements

Teddy Roy, Dorothea Wisser, Mickaël Rivallan, Manuel Corral Valero, Thibaut Corre, O. Delpoux, Gerhard D. Pirngruber, Grégory Lefèvre

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C · 2021 · 18 citations · 42 references

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Abstract

An innovative approach using solid/liquid interface characterization (zetametry measurements, ATR-IR), coupled with ex situ FTIR has been used to build a phosphate complexation model at the alumina surface via the PHREEQC software. According to the phosphorus coverage impregnated on the alumina surface, two mechanisms of adsorption have been identified: a specific surface complex adsorbed on the predominant alumina facet and a surface precipitation process. At low phosphorus coverage (P coverage < 1.2 at/nm2), the adsorption proceeds mainly through a monodentate complex adsorbed on μ1-AlIV-OH sites located on the (110) facet, and a bidentate involving μ1-AlV-OH (110) is also discussed. However, the surface concentration of these particular sites is limited. Thus, above the threshold of 1.2 at/nm2, a surface precipitation occurs with the formation of an amorphous AlPO4 phase, experimentally observed by FTIR and zetametry measurements.

References

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