TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of physico-chemical properties of soil clay fractions on the retention of dissolved organic carbon

AU - Singh, Mandeep

AU - Sarkar, Binoy

AU - Hussain, Sabir

AU - Ok, Yong Sik

AU - Bolan, Nanthi S.

AU - Churchman, Gordon Jock

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - This study investigated the effects of surface functional groups, cation exchange capacity (CEC), surface charge, sesquioxides and specific surface area (SSA) of three soil clay fractions (SCFs) (kaolinite–illite, smectite and allophane) on the retention of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils. Physico-chemical properties of the SCFs before and after removing native carbon and/or sesquioxides were characterised, and the DOC adsorption–desorption tests were conducted by a batch method. Native organic carbon (OC)/sesquioxide removal treatments led to a small change in the CEC values of kaolinite–illite, but significant changes in those of smectite and allophane. The net negative surface charge increased in all samples with an increase in pH indicating their variable charge characteristics. The removal of native OC resulted in a slight increase in the net positive charge on soil clay surfaces, while sesquioxide removal increased the negative charge. Changes in the functional groups on the SCF surfaces contributed to the changes in CEC and zeta potential values. There was a strong relationship (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.05) between the Langmuir maximum DOC adsorption capacity (Qmax) and SSA. The Qmax value also showed a moderately strong relationship (R2 = 0.55, p < 0.05) with zeta potential (at pH 7). Qmax was only poorly correlated with CEC and native OC content. Therefore, along with SSA, the surface charge and functional groups of SCFs played the key role in determining the adsorption affinity and hence retention of DOC in soils.

AB - This study investigated the effects of surface functional groups, cation exchange capacity (CEC), surface charge, sesquioxides and specific surface area (SSA) of three soil clay fractions (SCFs) (kaolinite–illite, smectite and allophane) on the retention of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils. Physico-chemical properties of the SCFs before and after removing native carbon and/or sesquioxides were characterised, and the DOC adsorption–desorption tests were conducted by a batch method. Native organic carbon (OC)/sesquioxide removal treatments led to a small change in the CEC values of kaolinite–illite, but significant changes in those of smectite and allophane. The net negative surface charge increased in all samples with an increase in pH indicating their variable charge characteristics. The removal of native OC resulted in a slight increase in the net positive charge on soil clay surfaces, while sesquioxide removal increased the negative charge. Changes in the functional groups on the SCF surfaces contributed to the changes in CEC and zeta potential values. There was a strong relationship (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.05) between the Langmuir maximum DOC adsorption capacity (Qmax) and SSA. The Qmax value also showed a moderately strong relationship (R2 = 0.55, p < 0.05) with zeta potential (at pH 7). Qmax was only poorly correlated with CEC and native OC content. Therefore, along with SSA, the surface charge and functional groups of SCFs played the key role in determining the adsorption affinity and hence retention of DOC in soils.

KW - Adsorption–desorption

KW - Physico-chemical properties

KW - Sesquioxides

KW - Soil carbon sequestration

KW - Soil clay fractions

U2 - 10.1007/s10653-017-9939-0

DO - 10.1007/s10653-017-9939-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28353053

AN - SCOPUS:85016094380

VL - 39

SP - 1335

EP - 1350

JO - Environmental Geochemistry and Health

JF - Environmental Geochemistry and Health

SN - 0269-4042

IS - 6

ER -