Interaction between Cr(VI) and a Fe-rich soil in the presence of oxalic and tartaric acids

This study examined the interaction between Cr(VI) and a Fe-rich soil in the presence of low-molecular-weight organic acids as a function of pH. Oxalic and tartaric acids were chosen since they existed in soils commonly. Batch experiments showed that adsorption of Cr(VI) by the soil within the pH range examined was inhibited in the presence of oxalic acid, which was more pronounced when the initial ratio of [oxalic acid]/[Cr(VI)] was raised from 1:1 to 2:1. With the addition of tartaric acid, concentration of Cr(VI) in equilibrium solutions was far less than that of single adsorbate system across the pH wide (2.5–5.5), which was noticeable especially at low pH. The results were attributed to Cr(VI) adsorption and, particularly, the soil surface catalyzed reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by tartaric acid. The data reported in this paper suggested that the mobility, the bioavailability, and the toxicity of Cr(VI) in soil environments might be greatly affected by pH, the presence and nature of low-weight-molecular organic acids (oxalic and tartaric acids).