Desorption and Isotopic Exchange Relationships of Phosphate Sorbed by Soils and Hydrous Ferric Oxide Gel

Summary Sorption of added inorganic phosphate (P) was irreversible in four contrasting soils and hydrous ferric oxide gel during 16 h desorption after 40 h sorption at the same (iso)pH. Irreversibility increased with increasing time of desorption above 30 h. When the amount of P which was chemisorbed during the sorption step was subtracted from the amount desorbed, the latter fell on the isotherm describing the more‐physical, potential‐determining sorption. No pH change occurred during desorption and net negative charge decreased by 1 equivalent per mole P desorbed. These results suggested that only more‐physically sorbed P was desorbed at the iso‐pH. The more‐physically sorbed P was also reversible with respect to changes in the ionic strength and cation species of the desorbing solution. The isotopic exchangeability of the more‐physically sorbed P was at least ten times greater than that of chemisorbed P. With increasing sorption time, both the ease of desorption and exchangeability of sorbed P decreased. Subsequent to desorption, the exchangeability of the remaining sorbed P also decreased. These observations are interpreted in terms of the concurrent changes in the amounts of chemisorbed and more‐physically sorbed P.