Sorption of Fulvic Acids and Their Compounds with Heavy Metal Ions on Clay Minerals

In real soils the interaction of humic substances with clay minerals often occurs with the participation of metal cations. The adsorption of fulvic acids (FA) solution and their solutions in the presence of heavy metal ions (Pb or Zn) on two clay minerals (kaolinite and bentonite) was investigated by measurement of the optical density changes in the of equilibrium solutions. The FA adsorption by bentonite at the concentrations 0.05–1 g/L proceeds according to the polymolecular mechanism and has a stepwise character. The adsorption of FA on kaolinite can be described by the mechanism of monomolecular adsorption. In three-component systems, including FA, trace element ions and a clay mineral, complex processes occur, including the formation of complexes and salts and their adsorption. The sorption of colored complexes of FA with Pb on the surface of kaolinite and bentonite increases with increasing metal concentrations (0.5–2 mmol/L). The interaction of the FA-Zn2+ compounds with bentonite is a more complicated process—adsorption takes place at the lowest concentration used only. Thus, binding of FA by clay minerals in the presence of metal cations is a complex phenomenon due to the chemical heterogeneity of FA, different properties of metals, characteristics of mineral surfaces and the variability of environmental conditions.