AbstractThe amorphous mineral selectively dissolved from the clay (<2 μm) fractions of twenty-six ferruginous soils contains considerable iron in addition to silicon and aluminium. SiO2/Al2O3 and SiO2/R2O3 molar ratios are between 2·03-3·52 and 1·72-2·95 respectively. The model of the amorphous ferri-aluminosilicate (AFAS) consists mainly of negatively charged tetrahedrally coordinated silica-alumina phase Si3AlO6(OH)4 containing domains of neutral FeOOH, with an outer positively charged hydroxyaluminium polymeric component [Al(OH)2.5]n.The calculated hydroxyl water content of the AFAS averages 17·8%; cation exchange capacity varies from 48·6 to 112·0 mEq/100 g and shows a negative correlation with the outer hydroxyaluminium octahedral component and a positive correlation with the ratio of the tetrahedral Si-Al component to the octahedral hydroxyaluminium component. The K-fixation capacity (1·9-6·1 mEq/100 g) of the AFAS does not appear to be related to the chemical composition. The genesis of the amorphous mineral is discussed.
Variations in moss peat cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) can result in inconsistent initial pH in moss peat-based substrates created using standard formulas for limestone additions and can lead to subsequent drift from the initial pH in those substrates. This study was conducted to determine the extent of such variation. CEC and BS were measured in three replications on 64 moss peat samples that were selected from three mires across Alberta, Canada, to represent maximum gradients in plant species composition within six degrees of decomposition acceptable for professional peat-based substrates. CEC ranged from 108 to 162 cmol·kg−1 (meq·100 g). Averaged overall samples, BS ranged from 15% to 71% of CEC and calcium accounted for 68%, magnesium for 25%, sodium for 5%, and potassium for 1.4% of BS. CEC was positively correlated to the amount of Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klingrr. in the sample (r = 0.22). BS was positively correlated to the amount of sedge (r = 0.28). Neither CEC nor BS was influenced by degree of decomposition (r = 0.002 and r = 0.08, respectively). Moss peats with high CEC have a greater buffering capacity than those with low CEC, resulting in less pH drift. Moss peats with high BS should have a low neutralization requirement to achieve a target pH. Understanding the species composition in peat-based substrates can alleviate problems of inconsistent initial pH and subsequent pH drift.
The initial results of the properties that have been determined to a sample of natural zeolite, coming from areas of volcanic activity of Panama, and that has been identified with potential for its industrial explotation, are presented. Some physicochemical properties, chemical composition and morphology were determined. A natural zeolite with an intermediate level of Si/Al (2.62), low levels of dissolved salts and a morphology with pores-shaped channels with a diameter of 5 mm are observed.Keywords: natural zeolites, chemisorption, morphology, macropores, cation exchange capacity
The cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) of the roots of 20 plant species was measured by a rapid technique not involving toxic reagents or harmful temperatures. Significant differences between the root C.E.C. of various species were found, and with three exceptions, legumes > herbs > grasses. Nitrogen supply had little effect on the legumes and herbs, but significantly increased the C.E.C. of two grasses. The concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the tops of plants utilizing rock phosphate were each positively correlated with root C.E.C. The concentration of phosphorus was not greater in the tops of plants with relatively large root systems.
Montmorillonite is a "green" solid catalyst and support used in many organic reations. In this paper, we describe the method to prepare two acid-activated montmorillonites from Binh Thuan and Lam Dong clays. We still prepared some cation exchanged montmorillonites as Fe3+ Zn 2+ and Al 3+. The Vietnamese montmorillonites and K-10, KSF (two commercial Fluka montmorillonites) were determinated simultanneously on some physicochemical properties such as crystalline structure, chemical composition, cation exchange capacity, adsorption capacity, porisity, surface area and acidity. The results shows that the quality of Vietnamese montmorillonites are equivalent with K-10 and KSF.
The ratios of sum of the cations: sum of the anions (R) of sixty-two agricultural and horticultural crops and pasture herbs were measured or calculated and found to be negatively correlated with % N in the plants. This suggests that the proposal that Italian rye-grass has a mechanism regulating the proportion of cations to anions taken up may also apply to other plant species. Dicotyledons had greater B values than monocotyledons at the same N level, but this is probably not because their roots have greater cation exchange capacity.
Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation Variation among Alberta, Canada, Moss Peats