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Effect of Soil pH on Adsorption of Lead, Copper, Zinc, and Nickel
Author(s) -
Harter Robert D.
Publication year - 1983
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/sssaj1983.03615995004700010009x
Subject(s) - zinc , chemistry , nickel , soil water , copper , adsorption , environmental chemistry , desorption , metal , soil test , inorganic chemistry , soil science , geology , organic chemistry
Lead, copper, nickel, and zinc adsorption by and desorption from pH‐adjusted soils has been studied. Surface and subsurface horizon samples of two soils were equilibrated with varying amounts of Ca(OH) 2 prior to metal addition. The amount of all four metals retained was dependent upon pH of the soil sample, with retention dramatically increasing above pH 7.0 to 7.5. With the exception of Ni, at least 70 to 75% of the retained metal was extractable in 0.01 N HCl. Nickel was somewhat less extractable, with that sorbed by the highest pH soils being the least extractable. Based on subsequent extractability, the soils used appeared to have specific adsorption sites for Pb, Ni, and Cu but little or none for Zn. These studies cast some doubt on the concept of pH management for immobilizing heavy metals placed on the land in that sorbed metals were substantially extractable by 0.01 M HCl, which has been used to estimate plant availability of soil ions.