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Improved Method for Separating Light‐ and Heavy‐Fraction Organic Material from Soil
Author(s) -
Strickland T. C.,
Sollins P.
Publication year - 1987
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/sssaj1987.03615995005100050056x
Subject(s) - fraction (chemistry) , pellets , mass fraction , soil water , decantation , suspension (topology) , chemistry , fractionation , extraction (chemistry) , chromatography , mineralogy , materials science , environmental science , soil science , mathematics , composite material , organic chemistry , homotopy , pure mathematics
An improved method is presented for separating whole soil into a mineral‐free organic fraction (light fraction) and an organomineral fraction (heavy fraction) by flotation in a dense inorganic salt solution. In the existing method, the heavy fraction is settled by centrifugation and the light fraction decanted. In the improved method, the light fraction is aspirated from the solution surface by suction after the soil suspension is allowed to settle. The improved method costs less, is more reproducible, and is practical in coarse‐textured soils where heavy fractions do not form stable pellets during centrifugation.