Surface loading effect on Cd and Zn sorption by kaolinite and montmorillonite from low concentration solutions

Studies of Cd and Zn sorption using Na-saturated kaolinite and montmorillonite, and low metal solution concentrations similar to those found in the environment, showed that metal sorption affinity (measured by K _d values) decreased markedly with increasing surface metal loading for both layer silicates. For equilibrium solution concentrations <0.1 μmol L^?1 for Cd, and < 1 μmol L^?1 for Zn, both metals were sorbed with greater affinity by kaolinite than montmorillonite. These results were probably due to the higher proportion of weakly acidic edge sites present on kaolinite surfaces. In the case of Zn there was an affinity reversal for equilibrium solution concentrations > 1 μmol L^?1, which was attributed to the permanent charge sites of montmorillonite. Cadmium ions were sorbed, by kaolinite, with greater affinity than Zn for equilibrium solution concentrations between 0.3 to 1.5 μmol L^?1. This result was attributed to retention of these metal ions through electrostatic attraction by permanent charge sites present on the kaolinite used in this work. According of these results it seems that metal sorption by these layer silicates involves predominantly edge weak acid sites at lower surface coverages (higher affinity sites), and permanent charge sites at higher metal coverages (lower affinity sites). It was concluded that Cd and Zn sorption by those two layer silicates is greatly influenced by surface metal coverage, and results cannot be extrapolated from low to high surface coverages, and viceversa.