Abstract
Phosphate adsorption studies from two phosphate samples (ferric phosphate and aluminium phosphate) by hydrous oxides of iron, chromium and aluminium precipitated by equivalent and deficient amount of two different precipitating reagents (sodium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide) were carried out in presence of a monosaccharide (glucose) and humic acid. The presence of these organic materials diminished the fixation of phosphate, the extent of which was found to depend on the nature of hydrous oxide and the cationic portions of the phosphate samples. On the basis of pH changes two separate mechanisms have been postulated. The reduction in phosphate fixation in presence of humic material has been ascribed to be due to the competitive adsorption of the humic acid anion in relation to the phosphate ion. With glucose, however, a complex formation between phosphate ion and the polyhydroxyaldehyde involving also the hydrogen ions seems to play a significant role. Humic acid was noted to reduce phosphate fixation more than glucose and this has been postulated to be due to the more effective complex formations between humic acid and the hydrous oxides and also to its greater cementing property. Wherever complex formations have been favoured between the organic materials and the hydrous oxides, phosphate fixation appreciably reduced.
Published Version
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