Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in karst soils amended with litter extract from Ficus virens

Abstract

In this study, different proportions of Le were used to amend purple, yellow, and yellow–brown soils of karst areas to investigate the effect of litter extract (Le) from Ficus virens on Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in karst soils. The basic physicochemical properties of Le-amended karst soils were determined, and the microscopic morphology of Le-amended karst soils was detected. The batch method was used to study the isothermal adsorption characteristics of Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption on different Le-amended karst soils. Physicochemical properties and microscopic morphology results showed that Le was amended on the karst soil surface and changed the surface properties of the karst soil. The maximum adsorption capacity range of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by Le-amended karst soils was 92.10–241.61 and 108.91–262.12 mmol/kg, respectively, and the peak value was reached when the karst soils were amended with 20 % of Le. Increasing the pH and temperature were beneficial to Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in each Le-amended karst soil. The adsorption amount of Cd(II) and Pb(II) initially increased and thendecreased with the increase in ionic strength. Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing process, and electrostatic attraction, precipitation, complexation, and ion exchange were the main adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption amount of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by Le-amended yellow–brown soil maintained approximately 85 % of original sample after three rounds of regeneration.