Adsorption/Desorption of Organic Anions in Brazilian Oxisols

Abstract

Organic anions affect solute mobility in soils. This study evaluated citrate and oxalate adsorption (0 to 4 mmol L⁻¹, soil–solution 1∶100, pH 5.5, ionic strength 30 mmol L⁻¹ as NaCl, 72‐h reaction) and desorption (pH 5.5, 30‐mmol L⁻¹ NaCl, 72 h) on A‐ and B‐horizon samples of two Brazilian Oxisols. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to assess adsorption maximum, distribution coefficients (Kf, Ku), and buffer index. Adsorption maximums (mol kg⁻¹) for red Latossol‐A, red Latosol‐B, red‐yellow Latosol‐A, and red‐yellow Latosol‐B horizons follow: citrate 0.0318, 0.0272, 0.0289, 0.0392; oxalate 0.0641, 0.0329, 0.0538, 0.0380. Kf (mol^1−1/n kg⁻¹ L^1/n) follows: citrate 0.3550, 0.3781, 0.4211, 0.2024; oxalate 1.0916, 0.0637, 1.8228, 0.0922. Buffer index (mol kg⁻¹)(mol kg⁻¹)⁻¹ follows: citrate 0.0841, 0.0756, 0.0738, 0.0264; oxalate 0.3787, 0.0862, 0.3233, 0.1082. Both anions showed great affinity for variable‐charge soils. The distribution curves for Ku showed higher adsorption energy in B‐ than in A‐horizons.

Keywords:

• Isotherms
• organic anions
• specific adsorption
• variable‐charge soils