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Zinc partitioning in Mediterranean rainwater
Author(s) -
Losno Rémi,
Bergametti Gilles,
BuatMénard Patrick
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl015i012p01389
Subject(s) - rainwater harvesting , zinc , carbonate , environmental chemistry , mediterranean climate , solubility , desorption , chemistry , adsorption , mineralogy , environmental science , biology , ecology , organic chemistry
Eleven rainwater samples were collected in the Western Mediterranean region in clean conditions in order to study the partitioning of zinc between soluble and insoluble forms. The pH of the rainwater sampled ranges between 4 and 7; the high values of pH resulting from the neutralization of acidic species by the calcium carbonate present in desertic dusts. The soluble zinc ranged between 15 and 99% of the total zinc; the higher percentage are observed for the lower pH, and the lower percentage for the higher pH. This variable solubility can be explained by an adsorption‐desorption equilibrium which is highly sensitive to the value of pH in rainwater.