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The solid-solution distribution of copper added to soils: influencing factors and models

  • Soils, Sec 4 • Ecotoxicology • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

A series of empirical and mechanistic geochemical models were developed to describe the solid-solution partitioning of copper (Cu) in typical fresh spiked Chinese soils.

Materials and methods

The influence of soil properties on Cu partitioning was assessed in a wide range of soils using multiple regression analysis. Geochemical models (WHAM VI and Visual MINTEQ) and simulation analyses in combination with experimental data (i.e., the bulk of soil properties and Cu contents) were performed in order to provide additional insight into the mechanisms controlling the Cu partitioning. Calculation of soluble Cu contents based on the two models was then simplified and optimized by adjusting input variables, and the calibrated outputs were used to produce reasonable predictions of soluble metal concentrations.

Results and discussion

The results of the multiple regression analyses presented in this paper show strong correlations between soluble Cu concentrations and soil Cu concentrations and properties, with adjusted coefficients of determination (Radj2) ranging between 0.84 and 0.91. Soil organic carbon (OC) content was an insignificant factor in most cases, but the active fraction of dissolved organic matter was important in improving model estimates. The best fit of root mean square error (RMSE) varied between 0.42 and 0.77 for the WHAM VI model and between 0.28 and 0.57 for the Visual MINTEQ model across all pH categories.

Conclusions

The models presented in this paper are suitable for investigating and simulating Cu solid-solution partitioning in a wide range of Chinese soils.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the financial support by Special Fund for Environmental Protection Scientific Research in the Public Interest (Project no. 201509032), the Natural Science Foundation of China (Project no. 41501537), and The High-level Leading Talent Introduction Program of GDAS. The authors also thank the national long-term soil experimental stations in China for soil collection, and Gillian Cozens and Cathy Fiebiger for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, 947 Heping Road, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430081, China

    Xiaoqing Zhang

  2. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Southern Street of Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100081, China

    Jumei Li & Dongpu Wei

  3. Institute of Plant Nutrition and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110161, China

    Bo Li

  4. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-Environmental Pollution Control and Management, Guangdong Institute of Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Yibing Ma

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  1. Xiaoqing Zhang
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  4. Bo Li
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Correspondence to Yibing Ma.

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Responsible editor: Dong-Mei Zhou

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Zhang, X., Li, J., Wei, D. et al. The solid-solution distribution of copper added to soils: influencing factors and models. J Soils Sediments 18, 2960–2969 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-1962-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-1962-y

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