ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Speciation of Cu, Zn, and Pb in Soil Solutions
Extracted from Strongly Polluted Soils
Treated with Organic Materials
Mateusz Cuske, Anna Karczewska, Bernard Gałka
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Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
Grunwaldzka 53, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Submission date: 2016-08-23
Final revision date: 2016-10-29
Acceptance date: 2016-11-03
Online publication date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2017-03-22
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2017;26(2):567-575
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ABSTRACT
Five soils differently contaminated by emissions from copper smelters were treated with the organic
materials lignite, compost, and sewage sludge. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb in soil solutions
were measured after different incubation times within 30 days. Speciation of metals in soil solution was
determined via modeling with Visual MinteQ. Soil amendment with all organic materials led to a temporary
increase of Cu concentrations in soil solutions. Those effects and metal speciation in solutions were highly
dependent on the kind of organic amendment that in particular affected pH and dissolved organic carbon
concentrations in soils. Applying acidic lignite resulted in the release of free metal ions into the solution,
while the application of immature compost led to the formation of metal complexes with soluble organic
compounds. Soil amendment with limed, alkaline sewage sludge resulted in a strong increase in Cu
concentrations in solutions due to the formation of ammine-Cu complexes. Principal component analysis
confirmed that the main factors that determined solubility of metals in the experiment were pH and dissolved
organic carbon concentrations in soil solutions. The strongest increase in metal solubility was observed
directly after the application of amendments, and afterward the concentrations of metals in soil solutions
started to decrease over time.