Adsorption and desorption of tetraalkyllead and dibutyltin compounds on contaminated soils

Abstract

Adsorption and desorption of di-n-butyltin (IV) (DBT), tetramethyllead (TML), and tetraethyllead (TEL) on four types of soil were studied. Although, all K d values for desorption are higher than the K d values for adsorptions, which shows that the adsorption process is reversible, the lower percentages of desorption indicate that very low concentration of these organometallic compounds can be more easily leached from the soil. The adsorption ranging between 48.8% and 88.3% for DBT, between 9.1% and 38.3% for TEL, and between 24.9% and 44.2% for TML was measured. The desorption was obtained between 9.4% and 23.7% for DBT, between 19.3% and 38.9% for TEL, and between 21.5% and 32.7% for TML. These results show that the nonpolar (TML, TEL) organometallic compounds can be easier leached than the ionic forms (DBT). Adsorption kinetics and adsorption as a function of pH were also evaluated. DBT and tetraalkyllead adsorption equilibrium were reached after 12 and 24 h, respectively. The tetraalkyllead is strongly adsorbed at pH 7–8 and DBT at pH 6.