Transport of molybdenum in a biosolid-amended alkaline soil

The transport of molybdenum (Mo) in a biosolid-amended, alkaline, agricultural soil was examined in the research reported herein. Batch-equilibrium and miscible-displacement experiments were conducted to examine the transport of Mo in soil with and without 10% by weight biosolid amendment. The results of geochemical modeling, conducted using PHREEQC, indicated that no mineral dissolution or precipitation reactions were expected for the system under the prevailing conditions. Sorption equilibrium coefficients (Kd) obtained from moment analysis of the Mo breakthrough curves were similar to those calculated from the results of the batch-equilibrium experiments. Mo sorption was greater for the biosolid-amended soil (Kd of 1.3 versus 0.35). Sorption of Mo was shown to be linear, rate limited, and reversible for both unamended and amended soil. The results suggest that Mo associated with biosolid-amended soils is relatively bioavailable and mobile.