Influence of soil treatments on physical properties, metal speciation and plant cultures

The changes promoted by treatment of a highly polluted soil with sulphuric acid or calcium hydroxide for changing its pH value are studied by controlling physical properties (particle size, TGA and DTA curves), evolution of metal species (exchangeable, as carbonates, related to Fe-Mn oxides, linked to organic matter and residual) and metal uptake by plant cultures. Metal contents were determined, after wet digestion with HF-HNO3-HClO4 when necessary, by AAS (Ca, Mg, Cu, Pb, Mn, Fe, Zn) or emission (Na, K). The treatment of soil with successive amounts of sulphuric leads to changes in particle size, hydration properties and exothermic peak for organic matter combustion. Very small changes were, however, detected in the alkaline treatment of soil. Soil treatments do not have practical influence on speciation of some metals (Na, K, Mg, Pb, Mn, Fe), but the intensity of the acid treatment leads to both an increase in the Cu extraction and a decrease in the Ca solubilization, probably through gypsum formation. In the case of zinc a maximum solubility in the middle of the range of acid treatment was observed. The comparison among extractants shows solubilities high for two pollutants (Pb, Cu), associated mainly to Fe-Mn oxides and organic matter, and low for two macrocomponents (Fe, K). The rest of metals, basically present in soil as carbonates or oxides, have intermediate extractions. Pot cultures weights depended mainly on both the treatment of soil (poor development in the more acid sample and drainage difficulties in the rest of acid treatments) and the situation (very low weights in laboratory runs as compared with outside), but the irrigation with water or a diluted sulphuric acid solution (at pH = 4.0) did not produce significant weight changes. Tendencies to increase plant pollution were observed for smaller soil pH, acid irrigation and probably for outside cultures, due to uptake by leaves.