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Surface Properties and Forces Holding Water in Allophane Soils
Author(s) -
Rousseaux J. M.,
Warkentin B. P.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000030037x
Subject(s) - allophane , soil water , imogolite , water retention , adsorption , mineralogy , water vapor , cation exchange capacity , chemistry , microporous material , geology , soil science , organic chemistry
Surface area and micropore size distribution were calculated from measurements of adsorption of water vapor at 25°C on a group of allophane soils from the West Indies and from Japan. The changes in pore‐size distribution on drying were measured. Specific surface area varied between 100 and 400 m 2 /g, and the dominant pore radius was about 7Å. Cation‐exchange capacity measured with different cations also varied with pore‐size distribution. Water retention properties were interpreted in relation to the proportion of micropores, and the chemical composition of allophane component of the soils. Pore geometry and the chemical nature of surfaces determined water retention of these allophane soils. This is in contrast to soils containing crystalline clays where the magnitude of the surface area primarily determines water retention.