Cationic interferences on zinc adsorption

Abstract

The effects of bivalent cations such as Mg2+, MN2+, FE2+ and Cu2+ on zinc adsorption in 16 surface soil samples (0-25 cm depth), representing major soil series of Tamil Nadu (India), and of the soil orders Vertisol and lnceptisol were studied. The study revealed that the interference of the four bivalent cations on zinc adsorption was in the order Cu2+ > Mn2+ > Me2 + > Mg2+. The effects of these ions on zinc adsorption could be explained on the basis of chemical properties such as magnetic moment value, kinetic classification, crystal field stabilization energy (CFSE) and kinetics of substitution. The variations in soil properties, particularly soil texture, also influenced zinc adsorption in these soils.