Kinetics of Desorption of Heavy Metals from Polluted Soils: Influence of Soil Type and Metal Source

Abstract

Kinetics of desorption of heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) from the surface (0-15 cm) samples of an acidic soil (Inceptisol) and a neutral soil (Mollisol) spiked with inorganic salts of these metals or through an acidic sludge were studied by the column method. The rate of desorption of soil applied heavy metals was initially rapid and gradually declined with time. In general, the release of heavy metals from soils polluted by inorganic or sludge sources conformed to a multi-site model of first order kinetics; however, the release of Cd and Ni applied through inorganic sources to the neutral soil could be adequately accounted for by single-site model. The double-site model could adequately explain the release of Cd from sludge amended acidic soil and the release of Zn applied though inorganic salt or sludge to the neutral soil. In acidic soil, the apparent desorption rate coefficients of heavy metals applied through inorganic sources were higher than those for the sludge source. In neutral soil, however, the apparent desorption rate coefficients of heavy metals added through sludge were higher than for inorganic sources. Among the heavy metals, the higher apparent desorption coefficient value and percent desorption of Cd indicated a higher potential of this metal for leaching and ground water contamination. The results also suggested that the acidic soil pH might reduce the ability of the soil to naturally sequester heavy metal cations and lead to their leaching.