| Abstract: | Precipitation of Aluminium and Phosphate Affected by Acidification Acidified waters often show elevated concentrations of Al (with up to 6 mg L–1 being not unusual). A pH increase resulting e.g. from mixing with non‐acidified water or from biological activities may be linked with Al precipitation. Up to now, this phenomenon was described for acid mine drainages. This investigation focuses on a whitish precipitate naturally formed in a brook of an atmospherically acidified catchment in the Ore Mountains, Germany. Based on infrared spectra the precipitate was identified as an Al‐hydroxosulfate with crystal water. A simulation of natural conditions in the laboratory showed that Al precipitated only if sulfate or phosphate ions were added to the solution. In the case of sulfate being added, the infrared spectrum of the precipitate was similar to the natural precipitate. 27Al NMR spectroscopy revealed tetrahedrally coordinated Al in some precipitates which evidences the participation of the tridecameric Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+ cation beside other polymeric Al cations. Precipitation experiments subjected to the given conditions showed that the phosphate elimination from solution with Al was much higher than with Fe. With Al and Fe added together, the P elimination rate was likewise high, and phosphate was bound onto Al in the precipitate. This was demonstrated by SEM‐EDX spectroscopy. Based on these results we present a possible reaction mechanism. The precipitation of Al together with P allows a significant retention of both elements in sediments because in contrast to Fe, Al immobilizes phosphate even under anoxic conditions. |
