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Speciation, reactivity and mobility of toxic elements in soil systems

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Environmental Geochemistry in the Tropics

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences ((LNEARTH,volume 72))

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Abstract

The quality of groundwater, as well as surface waters, is of primary concern in waste and tailings disposal technology. However, due to natural processes at the disposal site, dissolution and mobilization of toxic compounds may occur. In this case, the sorption phenomena in soils play a key role, which determines the transport of toxic compounds to receiving waters, and consequently their fate. This chapter describes the importance of sorption mechanisms, as a result of the type of surface-chemical interaction, on the mobility of toxic chemicals. Specific oxyanion adsorption, metal adsorption and anion exclusion are highlighted. The effects of different physico-chemical parameters on the mobility of arsenic, mercury and nitrate are emphasized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CETEM/CNPq — Centre for Mineral Technology, Rua 4, Quadra D, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-590, Brazil

    Ricardo Melamed

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  1. Ricardo Melamed
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Julio C. Wasserman Emmanuel V. Silva-Filho Roberto Villas-Boas

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag

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Melamed, R. (1998). Speciation, reactivity and mobility of toxic elements in soil systems. In: Wasserman, J.C., Silva-Filho, E.V., Villas-Boas, R. (eds) Environmental Geochemistry in the Tropics. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 72. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0010904

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0010904

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