The remobilization of metals from iron oxides and sediments by metal-EDTA complexes

Synthetic chelating agents such as EDTA form strong complexes with heavy metals and therefore have the potential to remobilize metals from sediments and aquifers. In natural waters EDTA is present almost exclusively in the form of metal-complexes. Therefore, remobilization of metals is always a metal-metal-EDTA exchange reaction. We have investigated, to our knowledge for the first time, the remobilization of metals from the surface of synthetic iron oxides and from a river sediment by different metal-EDTA complexes. The metals are exchanged as follows: MeEDTA(dissolved) + Me-adsorbed* --> Me*EDTA(dissolved) + Me-adsorbed The order of the remobilization rate of Zn2+ from goethite is CaEDTA > Fe(III)EDTA, reflecting the slow exchange reaction of Fe(III)EDTA. For the remobilization of Pb2+ from goethite, the rate was found to be Fe(III)EDTA > CaEDTA > ZnEDTA. Here, Fe(III)EDTA has surprisingly the fastest exchange rate. Only very limited remobilization of Pb2+ is possible from hydrous ferric oxide at pH 8 due to the very strong adsorption of Pb2+. The order of remobilization of Zn2+ from a natural river sediment was found to be CaEDTA > CuEDTA > Fe(III)EDTA. The remobilization rate of Zn2+ with Fe(III)EDTA is only 12% of the rate with CaEDTA, illustrating the importance of EDTA speciation for assessing remobilization.