title: Copper binding by peat fulvic and humic acids extracted from two horizons of an ombrotrophic peat bog.
abstract: We studied the binding of Cu(II) to humic acids and fulvic acids extracted from two horizons of an ombrotrophic peat bog by metal titration experiments at pH 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 and 0.1 M KNO3 ionic strength. Free metal ion concentrations in solution were measured using an ion selective electrode. The amounts of base required to maintain constant pH conditions were recorded and used to calculate H+/Cu2+ exchange ratios. The amount of Cu(II) bound to the humic fractions was greater than the amount bound to the fulvic fractions and only at the highest concentrations of metal ion the amount of Cu(II) sorbed by both fractions became equal. The proton to metal ion exchange ratios are similar for all humic substances, with values ranging from 1.0 to 2.0, and decreasing with increased pH. The amount of Cu(II) bound is practically independent of the horizon from which the sample was extracted. The results indicate that the humic substances show similar cation binding behaviour, despite the differences in chemical composition. The copper binding data are quantitatively described with the NICA-Donnan model, which allows to characterize only the carboxylic type binding sites. The values of the binding constants are higher for the humic acids than for the fulvic acids.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. das Ciencias, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gondar
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiol
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antelo
authors.forename: Florencio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arce
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D006812:Humic Substances; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D006812:Humic Substances; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D003300:Copper; C005023:fulvic acid