Abiotic hydrolysis of the detergent builder tripolyphosphate by hydrous manganese dioxide

The hydrolysis of tripolyphosphate to orthophosphate is facilitated by suspensions of amorphous manganese dioxide. Pyrophosphate is observed as an intermediate. The rate enhancement decreases with increasing pH. The weak sorption of orthophosphate on the oxide also decreases with increasing pH, indicating that the orthophosphate product would be bioavailable. The presence of calcium ions in natural waters increases both the rate of hydrolysis of tripolyphosphate and the extent of sorption of orthophosphate. Under some circumstances this abiotic mechanism could play a significant role in the hydrolysis of tripolyphosphate in the aquatic environment.