A study on the exchange additivity of zinc in solid mixtures in seawater——Ⅲ. Stepwise isotherms of the mixture

Zinc exchange isotherms in mixtures of hydrous metal oxides and clay minerals have been reported. The relationship between the isotherms of the mixtures and the isotherms of their components is studied. The isotherms of the mixtures are stepwise. And the formation constants for the zinc exchange in the mixtures are calculated. The results show that the stepwise equilibrium formation constants and the saturation exchange capacities for the zinc exchange in kaolinite/mon-tmorrillonite, amorphous iron oxide/montmorrillonite and γ-AlOOH/montmorrillonite mixtures are equal in weight to those of their components. The interactions between fresh iron oxyhydroxide and δ-MnO₂ reduce the metal binding sites of the mixtures, while the stepwise equilibrium constants are not affected by the interactions.