Heavy metals in wastes exist as multiple pollutants. The study of the interactions between multiple pollutants and soils should be of significance in practice. In the present study, the effect of chromate on adsorption and desorption behavior of Cu(II) in two variable charge soils was investigated, with the emphasis on the adsorption and desorption equilibria of Cu(II). The results showed that chromate can affect adsorption and desorption of Cu(II) in the colloidal systems of two variable charge soils. The extent of the effect was related to the initial concentrations of chromate and Cu(II), the system pH, and the nature of the soils. The presence of chromate led to an increase in the adsorption of Cu(II). For example, in the presence of 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 mmol L-1 of chromate, for the rhodic ferralsol the adsorption of Cu(II) increased by 15.3, 18.0, 19.0, and 20.2%, respectively. For the hyperrhodic ferrasol, the corresponding figures were 11.9, 17.0, 20.3, and 26.1%, respectively. The presence of chromate also caused an increase in the desorption of Cu(II). For instance, in the presence of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mmolL(-1) of chromate, the desorption for the rhodic, ferralsol increased by 16.9, 27.5, and 34.1%, respectively. For the hyperrhodic ferralsol, the corresponding figures were 18.1, 35.6, and 51.4%, respectively. The increments of the adsorption and desorption increased with the increase in equilibrium concentration of Cu(II) in the solution. For instance, when the equilibrium concentrations were 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mmol L-1, the increments for the rhodic ferralsol were 2.5, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.0 mmol kg(-1), respectively. For the hyperhodic, respectively. The effect of chromate for the hyperrhodic ferralsol ferralsol, the corresponding figures were 2.9, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.2 mmol kg(-1), was greater than that for the rhodic ferralsol. This is caused by the difference in the content of iron oxides for the two soils. The increments of the adsorption and the desorption of Cu(II) increased with the rise in pH, reaching a maximum value, and then decreased. It can be assumed that the increment of the adsorption was caused by the change in surface charge of the soils induced by the adsorption of chromate and the cooperative adsorption of chromate adsorbed and Cu(II). The increase of electrostatically adsorbed Cu(II) was responsible for the increase in the desorption of Cu(II). (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.