Prediction of K-Ca-Mg ternary exchange from binary isotherms in volcanic soils using the Rothmund-Kornfeld approach

Abstract

The Gaines-Thomas formulation of the Rothmund-Kornfeld equation was used to predict the K-Ca-Mg exchange in variable surface charge soils. Binary and ternary equilibria were carried out at 25°C and at constant ionic strength of 0.050 mol/L. The selectivity sequence K > Ca > Mg was observed in binary isotherms. The experimental ternary isotherms are well described from binary data. When experimental v. calculated equivalent fractions were plotted, slopes between 0.901 and 1.051, and correlations between 0.970 and 0.986, were obtained. The design used assures in volcanic soils that no, or minor, changes in surface charge, cation exchange capacity, and selectivity occur, but the predicted ternary values are restricted to the same binary experimental conditions employed.