Adsorption of Fe(III), Co(II) and Zn(II) onto particulates in fresh waters on the basis of the surface complexation model I. Stabilities of metal species adsorbed on particulates

A quantitative description of the adsorption of metal ions was attempted for particulates in three fresh waters on the basis of the surface complexation model. Fine particles in sediment at the same sites, and three pure materials, namely quartz, silicagel and kaolin, were also examined for comparison. The stabilities with Fe(III), Co(II) and Zn(II) tend to decrease from fine sediments to particulates and kaolin, and finally to silicagel and quartz. The apparent stabilities of these metal species on particulates are similar to those of their citrate complexes and are slightly higher than those of their glycine complexes.