Influence of oxalic acid on the adsorption of cadmium at the goethite surface

The adsorption/desorption of oxalic acid and Cd on goethite has been characterized in function of pH in KNO₃ medium. Electrophoretic mobilities and pH titrations show that while anion desorbs, cation adsorbs, the maxima of adsorption being in significantly different pH ranges. Adsorption-desorption phenomena of oxalic acid in function of pH are identical in absence or presence of Cd. Contrarily, not only adsorption, but also desorption of Cd is enhanced in presence of oxalic acid. Surface sites are shown to never be saturated even in presence of excess of ligand and cation. So, competition between anions and cations for surface sites is minor. Ligand in solution does not compete with surface sites for the Cd, probably due to the low tendency of oxalic acid to form complexes with Cd. Behavior of Cd in presence of oxalate is discussed and results suggest a surface-binding of Cd via an oxalate-bridge between the surface and the metallic cation.