Phosphate Associated Cadmium Immobilization Mechanism Depending on the Original Concentration of Cd in Soil

Adsorption and precipitation of cadmium (Cd) could be dependent on rate of P addition and Cd level in soil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine how addition rate of P affect mechanisms of Cd immobilization such as adsorption and precipitation in different levels of Cd in soil. Arable soils were spiked with inorganic Cd ($CdCl_2$) to give a total Cd concentration of 10, 100, and $1,000mg\;Cd\;kg^{-1}$. Monopotassium phosphate ($KH_2PO_4$, MPP) was selected as phosphate material and mixed with the pretreated arable soil at the rates of 0, 800, 1,600 and $3,200mg\;P\;kg^{-1}$. The mixture soils were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks in dark condition. Soil pH decreased with increasing MPP addition rate in all levels of Cd but negative charge of soil increased, thereby reducing 1 M $NH_4OAc$ extractable Cd. Soil solutions were undersaturated with respect to $CdCO_3$ and $Cd_3(PO_4)_2$ with all P addition rate in soil with low Cd level (${\leq}100mg\;Cd\;kg^{-1}$) but supersaturated in soil with high Cd level ($1,000mg\;Cd\;kg^{-1}$). From the above results, Cd solubility was controlled by precipitation of Cd minerals such as $CdCO_3$ and $Cd_3(PO_4)_2$ in soil with high Cd level but by Cd adsorption induced by increase in negative charge of soil with low level of Cd.