Effect of pH on sulfate adsorption by a forest oil

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Soil Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7190713

Nodvin, S C; Driscoll, C T; Likens, G E

Acidic deposition and forest clear-cutting are disturbances that have resulted in increased acidification of northeastern forest ecosystems. This study was conducted to evaluate whether acidification processes that are important in regulating sulfate transport and cycling in a Spodosol at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. The results of adsorption experiments demonstrated that small changes in solution pH have a large effect on sulfate adsorption characteristics of mineral soil at Hubbard Brook. The ability of the soil to remove sulfate from solution increased as the pH of the solution was decreased, with a maximum removal occurring at about pH 4.0. Through the use of initial mass isotherms, it was determined that sulfate removal depended upon (1) the ability of the soil to partition sulfate between the soil and solution phases and (2) the amount of reactive native sulfate that is present in the soil. Our analysis demonstrated that both these soil properties depend strongly upon solution pH.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Riverside
• OSTI ID: 7190713
• Journal Information: Soil Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci.; (United States) Vol. 142:2; ISSN SOSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ADSORPTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMISTRY
DEFORESTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FORESTS
HUMUS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RAIN
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SORPTION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS