STABILITY OF FERRIC PHOSPHATES

Summary Essentially congruent dissolution of colloidal ferric phosphate, metastrengite, and strengite was observed at pH 1.5 during 25 days. In contrast, preferential release of P to solution was obtained at pH 6.0. Dialysis of dried preparations of these three materials against hydrous ferric oxide gel (Fe gel) resulted in the loss of 9.0, 3.0, and 0.4 per cent of total P, respectively, during 20 days. A wet preparation of colloidal ferric phosphate released 17 per cent of total P during the same time. During dialysis, all ferric phosphates assumed a brownish colour. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of an appreciable quantity of short-range order material surrounding crystals of strengite following dialysis. These observations, coupled with the decrease in type ratio, demonstrate that an Fe gel coating forms on the ferric phosphates during dialysis. The results are discussed in terms of the likely stability of ferric phosphates in soils.