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Fluoro‐mobilization of metals in a Slovak forest soil affected by the emissions of an aluminum smelter
Author(s) -
Wilcke Wolfgang,
Totsche Kai Uwe,
Körber Markus,
Kobza Jozef,
Zech Wolfgang
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2624(200010)163:5<503::aid-jpln503>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - chemistry , metal , soil water , dissolved organic carbon , smelting , environmental chemistry , solubility , aluminium , fluoride , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , geology , soil science , organic chemistry
Depositions originating from a central Slovak Al smelter may increase metal solubility in adjacent soils because they contain F (mainly HF). The reason for fluoro‐mobilization of metals may be the formation of soluble fluoro‐metal complexes or the mobilization of organic matter and subsequent formation of organo‐metal complexes. The objectives of our work were (1) to assess the extent of metal mobilization by fluoride in a Slovak Lithic Eutrochrept affected by the emissions of an Al smelter and (2) to model the dissolved metal species with the help of a chemical equilibrium model (MINEQL+). The O (Moder), A, and B horizons were equilibrated with solutions at F concentrations of 0, 0.9, 2.7, and 9.0 mmol l —1 . In the extracts, the concentrations of Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), free and complexed F, and the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined. The heavy metal concentrations in the O horizon (Cd: 0.99, Cr: 18.0, Cu: 44, Ni: 26, Pb: 110, and Zn: 84 mg kg —1 ) were 2.5 to 9 times larger than those in the A and B horizons. The concentrations of H 2 O‐soluble F decreased from the O (261 mg kg —1 ) to the A (103 mg kg —1 ) and B horizon (92 mg kg —1 ). In batch experiments increasing addition of F increased the equilibrium concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and DOC in all samples, of Cd in the A, and of K in the B horizon. At the same time the concentrations of complexed F and pH increased whereas EC decreased. Chemical equilibrium modelling indicated that the mobilizing effect of F resulted from the formation of fluoro‐Al complexes and organo‐complexes of all other metals.