Selenium desorption from Ca‐Kaolinite

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Abstract
Toxic selenium (Se) concentrations were found recently in shallow groundwater in the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in California. The objective of the present work was to evaluate whether excessive leaching, variations in pH, and the presence of competing ions may contribute to Se solubilization and accumulation in the drainage water. Selenium desorption from a Ca‐Kaolinite suspension deviated considerably from the corresponding adsorption isotherm. Raising the suspension pH from 5.6 to 8.7 resulted in the release of all the Se present in the system into the solution phase. Decreasing the pH from 5.6 to 3.6, reduced Se and Se concentrations in the solution by a factor of 3 and 2, respectively. When adding P at a 10:1 P‐to‐total Se molar ratio, Se and Se concentrations in the solution increased from 1.5 to 2.3 and from 2.4 to 2.6 pM, respectivley. Sulfate ions at the same, or higher, molar ratios had no apparent effect on Se solubilization.