Sb In Soils Research Articles

Risk assessment from exposure to arsenic, antimony, and selenium in urban gardens (Madrid, Spain).

The authors discuss the geochemical behavior of arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and selenium (Se) in urban gardens and the human health implications associated with urban agriculture. A total of 42 samples from 7 urban gardens in Madrid, Spain, were collected from the top 20 cm of soil. Concentrations of As, Sb, and Se and the main soil properties (i.e., total iron, pH, texture, calcium carbonate, and organic matter) were determined. A significant correlation was found between As and Sb and calcium carbonate, indicating the possibility of surface adsorption or ligand exchange with the carbonate group. Also, Sb seemed to form stable chelates with soil organic matter. On the other hand, Se showed a significant association with clay and iron content. The concentration of Sb in soil exceeded the recommended value for agricultural use in 70% of the urban gardens. A human health risk assessment resulted in acceptable levels of both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks (although with elevated values of the latter), with As as the main risk driver and soil and food ingestion as the main exposure pathways. The numerical results of the risk assessment should be interpreted with caution given the considerable uncertainties in some exposure variables and the lack of quantitative values for the suspected carcinogenicity of Sb and Se. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:544-550. © 2016 SETAC.

Chemical and biological methods to evaluate the availability of heavy metals in soils of the Siena urban area (Italy)

A biogeochemistry field study was conducted in the Siena urban area (Italy) with the main objective of establishing the relationship between available amounts of heavy metals in soil assessed by a chemical method (soil fractionation) and bioavailability assessed by a biological method (bioaccumulation in earthworm tissues). The total content of traffic-related (Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn) and geogenic (Co, Cr, Ni, U) heavy metals in uncontaminated and contaminated soils and their concentrations in soil fractions and earthworms were used for this purpose. The bioavailability of heavy metals assessed by earthworms did not always match the availability defined by soil fractionation. Earthworms were a good indicator to assess the bioavailability of Pb and Sb in soil, while due to physiological mechanisms of regulation and excretion, Cd, Cu and Zn tissue levels in these invertebrates gave misleading estimates of their bioavailable pool. No relationship was identified between chemical and biological availability for the geogenic heavy metals, characterized by a narrow range of total contents in soil. The study highlighted that chemical and biological methods should be combined to provide more complete information about heavy element bioavailability in soils.

Assessing the uptake of arsenic and antimony from contaminated soil by radish (Raphanus sativus) using DGT and selective extractions

The enrichment of soil arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) is putting increasing pressure on the environment and human health. The biogeochemical behaviour of Sb and its uptake mechanisms by plants are poorly understood and generally assumed to be similar to that of As. In this study, the lability of As and Sb under agricultural conditions in historically contaminated soils was assessed. Soils were prepared by mixing historically As and Sb-contaminated soil with an uncontaminated soil at different ratios. The lability of As and Sb in the soils was assessed using various approaches: the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) (as CDGT), soil solution analysis, and sequential extraction procedure (SEP). Lability was compared to the bioaccumulation of As and Sb by various compartments of radish (Raphanus sativus) grown in these soils in a pot experiment. Irrespective of the method, all of the labile fractions showed that both As and Sb were firmly bound to the solid phases, and that Sb was less mobile than As, although total soil Sb concentrations were higher than total soil As. The bioassay demonstrated low bioaccumulation of As and Sb into R. sativus due to their low lability of As and Sb in soils and that there are likely to be differences in their mechanisms of uptake. As accumulated in R. sativus roots was much higher (2.5–21 times) than that of Sb, while the Sb translocated from roots to shoots was approximately 2.5 times higher than that of As. As and Sb in R. sativus tissues were strongly correlated with their labile concentrations measured by DGT, soil solution, and SEP. These techniques are useful measures for predicting bioavailable As and Sb in the historically contaminated soil to R. sativus. This is the first study to demonstrate the suitability of DGT to measure labile Sb in soils.

Kinetic modeling of antimony(III) oxidation and sorption in soils

Kinetic batch and saturated column experiments were performed to study the oxidation, adsorption and transport of Sb(III) in two soils with contrasting properties. Kinetic and column experiment results clearly demonstrated the extensive oxidation of Sb(III) in soils, and this can in return influence the adsorption and transport of Sb. Both sorption capacity and kinetic oxidation rate were much higher in calcareous Huanjiang soil than in acid red Yingtan soil. The results indicate that soil serve as a catalyst in promoting oxidation of Sb(III) even under anaerobic conditions. A PHREEQC model with kinetic formulations was developed to simulate the oxidation, sorption and transport of Sb(III) in soils. The model successfully described Sb(III) oxidation and sorption data in kinetic batch experiment. It was less successful in simulating the reactive transport of Sb(III) in soil columns. Additional processes such as colloid facilitated transport need to be quantified and considered in the model.

Potentially toxic element contamination in soil and accumulation in maize plants in a smelter area in Kosovo.

A biogeochemical field study was carried out in the industrial area of Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, where agricultural soils were contaminated by potentially toxic elements due to smelting activity. Total and bioavailable contents of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Sb, U and Zn in soil and their concentrations in maize roots and grains were determined. Soil contamination by As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn was variable from slightly to highly contaminated soils and influenced both the bioavailable fraction and accumulation of these potentially toxic elements in maize tissues. The comparison between potentially toxic element concentrations in roots and grains indicated that maize is able to limit the transfer of non-essential elements to edible parts. The plant-to-soil bioconcentration indices suggested that the transfer of potentially toxic elements from soil to plant was predicted better by bioavailable concentrations than by the total contents. These indices further identified some competitions and interactions among these elements in root uptake and root-to-grain translocation.

Rapid photooxidation of Sb(III) in the presence of different Fe(III) species

The toxicity and mobility of antimony (Sb) are strongly influenced by the redox processes associated with Sb. Dissolved iron (Fe) is widely distributed in the environment as different species and plays a significant role in Sb speciation. However, the mechanisms of Sb(III) oxidation in the presence of Fe have remained unclear because of the complexity of Fe and Sb speciation. In this study, the mechanisms of Sb(III) photooxidation in the presence of different Fe species were investigated systematically. The photooxidation of Sb(III) occurred over a wide pH range, from 1 to 10. Oxygen was not a predominant or crucial factor in the Sb(III) oxidation process. The mechanism of Sb(III) photooxidation varied depending on the Fe(III) species. In acidic solution (pH 1–3), dichloro radicals (Cl2−) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) generated by the photocatalysis of FeCl2+ and FeOH2+ were the main oxidants for Sb(III) oxidation. Fe(III) gradually transformed into the colloid ferric hydroxide (CFH) and ferrihydrite in circumneutral and alkaline solutions (pH 4–10). Photooxidation of Sb(III) occurred through electron transfer from Sb(III) to Fe(III) along with the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) through a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) process. The photocatalysis of different Fe(III) species may play an important role in the geochemical cycle of Sb(III) in surface soil and aquatic environments.

Effect of aqueous Fe(II) on Sb(V) sorption on soil and goethite

The effects of Fe(II) on the sorption and precipitation of Sb(V) on soils and goethite were investigated using batch experiments and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in this study. The sorption capacity of Sb(V) were much higher in anoxic soil than oxic soil. Typically, dissolved Fe(II) concentration in anoxic soils decreased significantly with increasing Sb(V), which may be suggestive of Fe-Sb precipitation. The elevated concentrations of Fe(II) (1 mM) enhanced the sorption capacity of Sb(V) on goethite significantly. However, synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction showed no new characteristic peak, indicating that this Fe-Sb precipitate might be poor crystallinity or amorphous. Moreover, Sb(III) was detected in anoxic soil, and the reduction of Sb(V) to Sb (III) improved the sorption capacity of Sb in anoxic soil because of the low solubility and migration of Sb(III). Nevertheless, Fe-Sb co-precipitation and Sb(V) reduction to Sb(III) might contribute simultaneously to the increased sorption capacity of Sb(V) on anoxic soils. This research could improve our current understanding of soil Sb chemistry in paddy and wetland soils.

Background and Reference Values of Metals in Soils from Paraíba State, Brazil

Soil contamination by heavy metals threatens ecosystems and human health. Environmental monitoring bodies need reference values for these contaminants to assess the impacts of anthropogenic activities on soil contamination. Quality reference values (QRVs) reflect the natural concentrations of heavy metals in soils without anthropic interference and must be regionally established. The aim of this study was to determine the natural concentrations and quality reference values for the metals Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn in soils of Paraiba state, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from 94 locations across the state in areas of native vegetation or with minimal anthropic interference. The quality reference values (QRVs) were (mg kg-1): Ag (<0.53), Ba (117.41), Cd (0.08), Co (13.14), Cu (20.82), Cr (48.35), Mo (0.43), Ni (14.44), Sb (0.61), Pb (14.62) and Zn (33.65). Principal component analysis grouped the metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Sb (PC1); Ag (PC2); and Ba, Co, Fe, Mn and Zn (PC3). These values were made official by Paraiba state through Normativa Resolution 3602/2014.

Characterizing the accumulation of various heavy metals in native plants growing around an old antimony mine

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to explore potential plant candidates to act as phytoremediators around the Xikuangshan mine, Hunan Province, China. Native plants including Imperata cylindrical (L), Rumex patientia L., Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don), Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don), Phytolacca americana L., Dryopteris erytbrosora, Pteriduum aquilinum var. latiusculum (Desv), Nephrolepiscordifolia (L) Presl, Oplismenus undulatifolius (A) Bea, Erigeron annuus (L) Pers, and soils samples were collected. As, Sb, Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn levels were measured in soil and plant samples. The concentrations of As, Sb, Hg, and Cd in soils were above the corresponding background values for Hunan province. R. Patienti, P. aquilinum, and P. americana had large bioconcentration factors (BAFs) and high translocation factors (TFs) for Sb; and the same showed in D. erytbrosora for Hg, P. vittata for Cd, I. cylindrical for Cr, and D. erytbrosora for Pb and Zn. In general, perennial plants showed high heavy metal contents in roots, and TFs greater than 1 were only observed for Sb in E. annuus and Cr in O. undulatifolius. These results demonstrate that several native plants growing around Xikuangshan are potential phytoremediators for metal and metalloid contaminated soils.

Effects of NO3 (-) and PO4 (3-) on the release of geogenic arsenic and antimony in agricultural wetland soil: a field and laboratory approach.

The dynamics of arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in wetland soil periodically submitted to agricultural pressure as well as the impact of soil enrichment with NO3 (-) (50 mg L(-1)) and PO4 (3-) (20 mg L(-1)) on As and Sb release were evaluated at both field and laboratory scales. The results showed that As and Sb exhibited different temporal behaviors, depending on the study scale. At field scale, As release (up to 93 μg L(-1)) occurred under Fe-reducing conditions, whereas Sb release was favored under oxidizing conditions (up to 5 μg L(-1)) and particularity when dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased in soil pore water (up to 92.8 mg L(-1)). At laboratory scale, As and Sb release was much higher under reducing conditions (up to 138 and 1 μg L(-1), respectively) compared to oxic conditions (up to 6 and 0.5 μg L(-1), respectively) and was enhanced by NO3 (-) and PO4 (3-) addition (increased by a factor of 2.3 for As and 1.6 for Sb). The higher release of As and Sb in the enriched reduced soil compared to the non-enriched soil was probably induced by the combined effect of PO4 (3-) and HCO3 (-) which compete for the same binding sites of soil surfaces. Modeling results using Visual Minteq were in accordance with experimental results regarding As but failed in simulating the effects of PO4 (3-) and HCO3 (-) on Sb release.

The pH-dependent long-term stability of an amorphous manganese oxide in smelter-polluted soils: Implication for chemical stabilization of metals and metalloids

An amorphous manganese oxide (AMO) and a Pb smelter-polluted agricultural soil amended with the AMO and incubated for 2 and 6 months were subjected to a pH-static leaching procedure (pH 3–8) to verify the chemical stabilization effect on metals and metalloids. The AMO stability in pure water was pH-dependent with the highest Mn release at pH 3 (47% dissolved) and the lowest at pH 8 (0.14% dissolved). Secondary rhodochrosite (MnCO3) was formed at the AMO surfaces at pH>5. The AMO dissolved significantly less after 6 months of incubation. Sequential extraction analysis indicated that “labile” fraction of As, Pb and Sb in soil significantly decreased after AMO amendment. The pH-static experiments indicated that no effect on leaching was observed for Cd and Zn after AMO treatments, whereas the leaching of As, Cu, Pb and Sb decreased down to 20%, 35%, 7% and 11% of the control, respectively. The remediation efficiency was more pronounced under acidic conditions and the time of incubation generally led to increased retention of the targeted contaminants. The AMO was found to be a promising agent for the chemical stabilization of polluted soils.

Geogenic Distribution of Arsenic (As) and Antimony (Sb) in Soils of the Murcia Region in Spain

The objective of this study was to determine the As and Sb contents in soils from the Murcia Region of Spain and the possible relationship between the mineralogical composition, soil properties, and As and Sb concentrations. In this study, 490 samples were selected from areas with different characteristics in order to study As and Sb variability. Results show that As and Sb concentrations are positively correlated with the phyllosilicate and quartz content but negatively correlated with the calcite content. The generic reference level (GRL) for these elements was determined according to the Spanish legislation. Established GRL values vary according to the established mineralogical groups, suggesting that GRL has to be determined considering the lithological characteristics of the study area.

Effect of Antimony on Physiological Responses of Green Chinese Cabbage and Enzyme Activities of Allitic Udic Ferrisols

High concentrations of antimony (Sb) in soils and vegetables can cause potential health risk. However, the effect of Sb on the growth and response of crops are not well known and to date, there is still no Sb limit standard for Allitic Udic Ferrisols in China. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of antimony (Sb) on biomass, physiological performances, and macro- and micronutrient element concentrations of green Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.), as well as enzyme activities, in Allitic Udic Ferrisols from Hunan Province, China. Antimony was supplied at rates of 0 (control), 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg kg−1 and thus with the background value of 1.0 mg kg−1, the Sb concentrations in the treated soil samples were 1, 3, 6, 11 21, and 51 mg kg−1, respectively. The results showed the leaf biomass and ascorbic acid content of cabbage significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by 30.6% and 48.3%, respectively, and soil urease and dehydrogenase activities also significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by 33.6% and 32.5%, respectively, when soil Sb concentration was 21 mg kg−1 as compared with the control. The uptake of essential nutrient elements such as Mg, Cu, and Zn by cabbage was obviously affected, while the leaf soluble sugar content slightly changed when the soil Sb concentration exceeded 21 mg kg−1. Based on cabbage physiological responses and soil enzyme activities, the permissible concentration of 21 mg kg−1 for Sb in Allitic Udic Ferrisols should be recommended.

Background concentrations and reference values for heavy metals in soils of Cuba.

The potential threat of heavy metals to human health has led to many studies on permissible levels of these elements in soils. The objective of this study was to establish quality reference values (QRVs) for Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, As, Hg, V, Ba, Sb, Ag, Co, and Mo in soils of Cuba. Geochemical associations between trace elements and Fe were also studied, aiming to provide an index for establishing background concentrations of metals in soils. Surface samples of 33 soil profiles from areas of native forest or minimal anthropic influence were collected. Samples were digested (USEPA method 3051A), and the metals were determined by ICP-OES. The natural concentrations of metals in soils of Cuba followed the order Fe > Mn > Ni > Cr > Ba > V > Zn > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Sb > Ag > Cd > Mo > Hg. The QRVs found for Cuban soils were as follows (mgkg(-1)): Ag (1), Ba (111), Cd (0.6), Co (25), Cr (153), Cu (83), Fe (54,055), Mn (1947), Ni (170), Pb (50), Sb (6), V (137), Zn (86), Mo (0.1), As (19), and Hg (0.1). The average natural levels of heavy metals are above the global average, especially for Ni and Cr. The chemical fractionation of soil samples presenting anomalous concentrations of metals showed that Cu, Ni, Cr, Sb, and As have low bioavailability. This suggests that the risk of contamination of agricultural products via plant uptake is low. However, the final decision on the establishment of soil QRVs in Cuba depends on political, economic, and social issues and in-depth risk analyses considering all routes of exposure to these elements.

Impact of geochemical barriers on the accumulation of heavy metals in urban soils

Based on multidimensional statistical models that connect the levels of contents of heavy metals and metalloids in the soils of the Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow with landscape and anthropogenic factors, a comparative estimation of the capacity of the complex geochemical barriers in the surface layers of urban and background soils is carried out. The share of heavy metals fixed in the urban soils due to the technogenous transformation of their physical and chemical properties, which amounted to 40–50% of the total content for Bi, Pb, Cd, Sb, As, and up to 26–30% for Zn and Cu, is calculated. The growth in the content of Bi, Sb, As, Cu, Pb, and Zn in urban soils is caused by an increase in the quantity of iron and manganese oxides. The increase in the content of Sb, As, and Pb is related to organic matter; and the rise in Bi, Cd, and Cu has resulted from the increasing amounts of the silt and clay particles in the soils, which indicates the leading role of sorption geochemical barriers. Cu, Zn, and Cd also accumulate on alkaline barriers.

Speciation of antimony and arsenic in the soils and plants in an old antimony mine

The speciation changes of antimony (Sb) in soil–plant system are largely unknown as compared with those of arsenic (As). In this study, indigenous plants and associated soils were sampled at the Xikuangshan Sb mine (XKS), China. The Sb in the soils (441–1472mg/kg) were far greater than As (32–354mg/kg), and the Sb and As availabilities in the soils, were 5.5% and 3.9% in average, respectively. HPLC-ICP-MS revealed the presence of four species of Sb in the soils and plants, including SbIII, SbV, TMSb and UnkSb (unknown). The use of XANES revealed that the UnkSb consisted of inorganic Sb in the form of SbV. Inorganic Sb were prevalent in the soil and plant samples at the eight sites, whereas TMSb was observed in only a few of the rhizosphere soils, and, in plants at a few of the sites, primarily in the leaves and to a lesser extent in the stems. Arsenic was detected in the soils primarily as inorganic forms, while, DMA was detected in high proportions in all of the plant tissues at all of the sites. The methylation of Sb was far less than that of As in the indigenous plants at XKS. The results suggest that As and Sb differ in transformation characteristics in the soil–plant system in XKS.

Distribution and mobility of toxic metals in Thymus alsarensis Ronniger in the Allchar As–Sb–Tl mine, Republic of Macedonia

The Allchar district is an abandoned antimony–arsenic–thallium deposit located in the north-western region of Kožuf mountain in the Republic of Macedonia. The locality of Allchar has a complex and unique mineral composition. The current study sought to investigate the levels of uptake and distribution of different heavy metals, such as As, Sb and Tl, in the different organs of Thymus alsarensis Ronniger, an endemic plant species of the area. Root, stem, leaf and flower samples, as well as corresponding soils, were processed, digested and then analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Significant accumulation of As, Sb and Tl in this endemic species was observed. Total As content in the soil ranged from 34.7 to 5288 mg kg–1, and the content of As in plants ranged from 0.25 to 140 mg kg–1. The content of Sb in soil and plants ranged from 6.3 to 130 mg kg–1 and 0.25 to 1.51 mg kg–1, respectively. Lastly, the content of Tl in soil and plants ranged from 2.0 to 330 mg kg–1 and 0.10 to 496 mg kg–1, respectively. Similar results were obtained from extraction tests of soil samples using various solvents.

Simultaneous determination of As and Sb in soil using hydride generation capacitively coupled plasma microtorch optical emission spectrometry – comparison with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A method using a miniature analytical system based on hydride generation capacitively coupled plasma microtorch optical emission spectrometry with a QE65 Pro microspectrometer was developed and evaluated for the simultaneous determination of As and Sb in soil samples. The use of this microspectrometer allows the examination of the spectral range between 190 and 220 nm where the continuum background emission of the plasma is low and the most intense resonance lines As 193.759; 197.262 nm and Sb 206.833; 217.581 nm are located. The method involves microwave-assisted digestion of samples in aqua regia, prereduction of As(V) and Sb(V) to their (+3) species with 0.3% L-cysteine by heating in a boiling water bath at 90 ± 5 °C and hydride generation in 0.01 mol L−1 HCl (pH = 2.00 ± 0.01) medium with 0.5% NaBH4 solution. The method was optimized in order to provide the simultaneous determination of As and Sb. The figures of merit were evaluated at different emission wavelengths under the optimum conditions of plasma microtorch operation (10 W, 150 mL min−1 Ar), and the best performances were obtained at 193.759 nm (As) and 217.581 nm (Sb). The figures of merit of the method were compared to those of the traditional hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry taken as a reference method. Analysis of CRMs revealed recoveries of 101 ± 9% As and 102 ± 3% Sb comparable to 102 ± 7% As and 98 ± 4% Sb in the reference method. The precision of determinations was 2–10% for 90–210 mg kg−1 As and 40–130 mg kg−1 Sb, close to 3–8% in hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The Bland and Altman test performed on 10 soil samples indicated no significant difference between the results obtained by the two methods, so that the miniature analytical system could be successfully applied for As and Sb monitoring in environmental samples. The proposed method is attractive in terms of analytical costs due to limited consumption of high purity HCl, power and Ar to sustain the plasma, and therefore more advantageous than hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Valores de referência de qualidade para metais pesados em solos do Rio Grande do Norte

O crescimento industrial e o populacional têm aumentado os teores de metais pesados nos solos e impactado a qualidade desse recurso. Nesse contexto, as agências de proteção ambiental vêm despendendo esforços para o estabelecimento de índices que possam identificar áreas suspeitas de contaminação. Valores de Referência de Qualidade para Solos (VRQs) refletem a concentração natural de determinada substância no solo, sem interferência antrópica. O trabalho objetivou estabelecer os VRQs para os metais Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, V e Zn exigidos pelo Conama, para composição da legislação direcionada ao monitoramento desses elementos nos solos do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Foram coletadas 416 amostras de solo em áreas de mata nativa ou com mínima influência antrópica. A abertura das amostras foi efetuada pelo método EPA-3051A, sendo os metais determinados por espectrometria de emissão ótica (ICP-OES) e absorção atômica (AA). Os resultados do trabalho comprovaram que estudos regionalizados são essenciais para definição de VRQs. Os VRQs calculados para o Rio Grande do Norte foram mais restritivos que os de outros estados do país. A análise fatorial de confirmação dos dados foi útil para obtenção de VRQs mais confiáveis e demonstrou que para o Estado esses valores podem ser estabelecidos com apenas duas repetições por local de coleta. Nesse sentido, é primordial um planejamento prévio, de distribuição dos locais de amostragem, de maneira que os diversos compartimentos geomorfológicos, pedológicos e geológicos do Estado sejam representados.

Kinetic modeling of antimony(V) adsorption–desorption and transport in soils

Antimonate [Sb(V)] adsorption–desorption and transport in an acidic red soil (Yingtan) and a calcareous soil (Huanjiang) was investigated using kinetic batch and miscible displacement experiments. Different formulations of a multi-reaction model (MRM) were evaluated for their capabilities of describing the retention and transport mechanisms of Sb(V) in soils. The experimental results showed that adsorption of Sb(V) by two soils was kinetically controlled and largely irreversible. The Sb(V) adsorption capacity and kinetic rate of the acidic red soil was much higher than that of the calcareous soil. The asymmetrical breakthrough curves indicated the strong dominance of non-equilibrium retention of Sb(V). A four step sequential extraction procedure provided evidence that majority of applied Sb(V) was irreversibly retained. A formulation of MRM with two kinetic sorption sites (reversible and irreversible) successfully described Sb(V) adsorption–desorption data. The use of kinetic batch rate coefficients for predictions of breakthrough curves (BTCs) underestimated Sb(V) retention and overestimated its mobility. In an inverse mode with optimized rate coefficients, the MRM formulation was capable of simulating Sb(V) transport in soil columns.