Formation and stability of mixed Mg2+ / Ca2+ / phytate species in seawater media. Consequences on ligand speciation.

The results of a potentiometric investigation (by ISE-H+, glass electrode) on the speciation of phytate ion (Phy12−) in an ionic medium simulating the major components (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42−) of natural seawater, at different salinities and t = 25 °C, are reported. The work was particularly aimed at determining the possible formation of mixed Ca2+–Mg2+–phytate ion pairs, and to establish how including the formation of these mixed species would affect the speciation modeling in seawater media. After testing various speciation models, that considering the formation of the MgCaH3Phy5−, MgCaH4Phy4−, Mg2CaH3Phy3− and Mg2CaH4Phy2− species was accepted, and corresponding stability constants were determined at two salinities (S = 5, 10). A discussion is reported both on the choice of the experimental conditions and on the possibility to extend these results to those typical of real seawater. A detailed procedure is also described to demonstrate that the stability of these species is higher than that statistically predicted. As reported in literature, a parameter, namely log X, has been determined in order to quantify this extra stability for the formation of each mixed species at various salinities. For example, at S = 10, log X113 = 2.67 and log X114 = 1.37 for MgCaH3Phy5− and MgCaH4Phy4− (statistical value is log Xstat = 0.60), and log X213 = 6.11 and log X214 = 2.15 for Mg2CaH3Phy3− and Mg2CaH4Phy2− (log Xstat = 1.43), respectively. Results obtained also showed that the formation of these species may occur even in conditions of low salinity (i.e. low concentration of alkaline earth cations) and low pH (i.e., more protonated ligand).