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The Mechanism of Phosphate Fixation by Iron Oxides¹

ABSTRACT

Infrared spectroscopic techniques have been used to obtain a structural model for the surface reaction between iron oxides and phosphate ions. Two surface hydroxyl ions (or water molecules) are replaced by one phosphate ion. Two of the oxygen atoms of the phosphate ion are coordinated, each to a different Fe³⁺ ion, resulting in a binuclear surface complex of the type Fe-O-P(O₂)-O-Fe. Evidence is given for phosphate adsorption producing this coordination structure on the surfaces of goethite, hematite, lepidocrocite, ß-ferric hydroxide, and amorphous ferric hydroxide gel.

¹ Contribution from Chemistry Department, University of Papua New Guinea, Box 4820, P N G.

² Senior Lecturer in Soil Science, Lecturer in Chemistry, and Senior Lecturer in Chemistry (now at Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane Australia 4111), respectively.

Received for publication November 25, 1974. Accepted for publication April 15, 1975.