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Investigation of the clay mineral protection theory for non‐hydrolysable nitrogen in soil
Author(s) -
Freney J. R.,
Miller Raymond J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740210201
Subject(s) - chemistry , montmorillonite , solubility , clay minerals , hydrochloric acid , nitrogen , ammonium , inorganic chemistry , mineral acid , mineral , organic chemistry , mineralogy , aqueous solution
The stability of clay minerals and synthetic clay mineral‐nitrogen complexes in boiling 6 N hydrochloric acid was studied to determine whether clay minerals in soil could protect nitrogen compounds or ions from solution. The crystal structure of uncomplexed clay minerals, such as montmorillonite, appeared to be destroyed by boiling acid. Interlamellar ammonium did not reduce the solubility of these clay minerals in boiling acid, nor was the ammonium ion protected from solution. However, a number of organic nitrogen compounds (in particular quaternary ammonium salts) markedly reduced the solubility of montmorillonite. In addition the clay mineral reduced the solubility of organic nitrogen compounds in boiling acid. This reduction in solubility did not appear to be due to humin formation or to adsorption of nitrogen compounds on the amorphous residue produced from acid treatment of montmorillonite. The results suggest that a clay mineral protection theory for non‐hydrolysable nitrogen is tenable.