Metal mobilization in soil by two structurally defined polyphenols

► The larger polyphenol (oenothein B) binds more Fe and All than the smaller EGCg. ► Oenothein B mobilized a significant amount of Fe and Al from soil. ► Micelle-mediated separation was utilized to study tannin-metal binding. ► Langmuir model for competitive binding was used to predict multiple metal binding.