Adsorption and desorption reactions of metals in soils are influenced by the surface of the soil colloid attributes and solution composition. This study evaluated the effect of the pH on Cd adsorption (Cd ads) and desorption (Cd des) in l7 Brazilian Oxisol samples that differed in their chemical, physical and mineralogical attributes. Samples of each soil, suspended in 5 mmol L-1 Ca(NO3)2 (pH adjusted to 4.5; 5.5, and 6.5; ratio soil:solution 1:67) were placed to react with 0.20 mmol L-1 Cd(NO3)2 (final ratio soil:solution 1:100) for 72 h, after which they were centrifuged and the Cd concentration of the solution determined. Thereafter, 25 mL of 5 mmol L-1 Ca(NO3)2 were added to the remaining residue to desorb the Cd retained in the soil samples. An increase of the pH solution from 4.5 to 5.5, from 4.5 to 6.5 and from 5.5 to 6.5 caused a 1.3; 2.2 and 1.7-fold increase in the Cd adsorption, respectively. The mean percentage of Cd adsorbed (Cd%ads) was 27 (pH 4.5), 35 (pH 5.5) and 55% (pH 6.5). The effect of soil attributes on Cd ads was only evidenced at a pH of 5.5 and 6.5, by the correlations between Cd ads and the soil organic matter, specific superficial area (SSA), CEC at pH 7.0 (CEC), kaolinite, hematite, oxalate-and-DCB-Fe and clay contents. However, only CEC and clay content, at pH 5.5 and the SSA, at pH 6.5, were included in the model of Cd ads prediction, obtained through regression analyses. The adsorption in values of higher pH did not propitiate reduction in Cd des, which was around 20% for pH 4.5 and 40% for pH 5.5 and 6.5. The small proportions of Cd adsorbed by these Oxisols, mainly at lower pH values, which are an indication of high mobility and bioavailability, reinforces the need for the adoption of appropriate criteria to use or discard residues containing Cd in agricultural areas or close to aquifers.
trace element; chemisorption; soil pollution; and dynamics of metallic ions
