Chromium Adsorption in Different Mineralogical Fractions from Subtropical Soils

Safe application of chromium (Cr)-containing organic industrial wastes to soil requires considering the ability of the soil to adsorb Cr. In this study, the maximum Cr adsorption capacity was assessed for the bulk samples and their clay and iron-free clay fractions of four subtropical soils differing in mineralogy. To this end, the samples were supplied with Cr(III) nitrate solutions at pH 4.5 or 5.5. The results of Cr(III) adsorption fitted to a Freundlich equation and the adsorption capacity was positively correlated with soil organic matter and iron oxide contents. The clay fractions adsorbed more Cr per unit mass than the bulk soils and the iron-free clay fractions. The Cr(III) adsorption capacity increased with increasing soil pH due to more charges on adsorbing surfaces. Our results suggest that the soils rich in organic matter and iron oxides and having a pH above 4.5 are suitable for application of Cr(III)-loaded industrial wastes.