Combined effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on
mobilization of arsenic and lead from multi-contaminated soils

Onireti, O; Lin, C; Qin, J

Abstract

A batch experiment was conducted to examine the combined effects of three common low-molecularweight
organic acids (LMWOAs) on the mobilization of arsenic and lead in different types of multicontaminated
soils. The capacity of individual LMWOAs (at a same molar concentration) to mobilize
soil-borne As and Pb varied significantly. The combination of the organic acids did not make a marked
“additive” effect on the mobilization of the investigated three elements. An “antagonistic” effect on
element mobilizationwas clear in the treatments involving oxalic acid for some soils. The acid strength of
a LMWOA did not play an important role in controlling the mobilization of elements. While the mobilization
of As and Pb was closely associated with the dissolution of soil-borne Fe, soil properties such as
original soil pH, organic matter contents and the total amount of the element relative to the total Fe
markedly complicated the mobility of that element. Aging led to continual consumption of proton
introduced from addition of LMWOAs and consequently caused dramatic changes in solution-borne Fe,
which in turn resulted in change in As and Pb in the soil solution though different elements behaved
differently.

Citation

mobilization of arsenic and lead from multi-contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 170, 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.024

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2017
• Journal: Chemosphere
• Print ISSN: 0045-6535
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 170
• Pages: 161-168
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.024
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.024