A unifying model of cation binding by humic substances

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(92)90158-F· OSTI ID:7159394

Tipping, E; Hurley, M A ^[1]

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1. Inst. of Freshwater Ecology, Ambleside, Cumbria (United Kingdom)

Humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) are recognized to interact extensively with cations in natural waters and soils, with important effects on chemical speciation. There have been numerous laboratory studies of the interactions-reviewed by Boggs et al. (1985), Buffle (1988) and Sposito (1986)-and these have yielded a considerable body of quantitative binding data. However, the information is difficult to apply to natural systems because of the lack of a suitable model that can take into account competition effects among cations, including protons, and the influence of ionic strength. Another problem, at least in principle, is that the humic samples studied have come from a variety of sources and, therefore, may be intrinsically different in their ion-binding properties. The purpose of the work described here was to formulate a model of ion-binding by humic substances that could be used over a range of conditions, and to obtain parameters by analyzing published data on proton-humic and metal-humic interactions. The study aims to place available data into a unifying framework in order to rationalize present knowledge and aid the iterative processes of further experimentation and consequent model improvement. In this study, the authors concentrate on data for fulvic-type material, but the model (Model V) is applicable to all humic substances.

• OSTI ID: 7159394
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 56:10; ISSN GCACAK; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BINDING ENERGY
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY
FULVIC ACIDS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HUMIC ACIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES
ION EXCHANGE
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOLECULAR MODELS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SOILS
WATER