Adsorption of trimethyl phosphate and triethyl phosphate on dry and water pre-covered hematite, maghemite, and goethite nanoparticles

► First comparative study of organophosphorus (OP) compound adsorption on iron oxides. ► Bonding and reactivity of OP depend on polymorph type and length of aliphatic chains. ► OP are coordinated to Lewis acid sites on hematite and maghemite. ► OP are mainly bonded to Brønstedt acid surface OH groups on goethite. ► Modelling of OP adsorption kinetics on hematite, maghemtite, and goethite.