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Modeling the Acid–Base Surface Properties of Aquatic Sediments

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Abstract

We propose a model that explains the acid–base surface properties of clastic sediments from two Argentinean reservoir lakes. The model uses potentiometric titration data sets and fixed parameters such as the apparent stability constants and reaction stoichiometries of acid–base equilibriums involving known mineral phases. The model considers that sediments act as a set of independent sorption surfaces, such as organic matter, clay silicate, and iron (hydr)oxides, thus the acid–base equilibrium and the correspondent protolytic constants are represented by a humic acid, a Na-illite, and a poor crystalline Fe-hydr(oxide). In agreement with experimental data, the model predicts that all sediment samples show a similar charging behavior, increasing the negative charge as the pH increases. The net charge of sediments is controlled by the presence of negatively charged minerals and/or organic matter coatings. This reveals the great influence of clays and organic matter functional groups on the acid–base surface properties of sediments, and consequently on the surface reactivity toward contaminant transport.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Argentina’s FONCYT, SECYT-UNC, and CONICET. M. G. García, C. P. De Pauli, M. Avena, M. A. Blesa, and P. J. Depetris are members of CICyT in Argentina’s CONICET. L. Borgnino acknowledges a postdoctoral fellowship from CONICET. We are specially grateful to María Dos Santo Afonso and anonymous reviewers for suggesting significant improvements to this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INFIQC, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Ciudad Universitaria, X5016CGA, Córdoba, Argentina

    L. Borgnino & C. P. De Pauli

  2. CICTERRA (Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra), CIGeS (Centro de Investigaciones Geoquímicas y de Procesos de la Superficie), F. C. E. F. y N, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016CGA, Córdoba, Argentina

    L. Borgnino, M. G. Garcia & P. J. Depetris

  3. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia en Química Aplicada. FCN e IML, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina

    M. V. del Hidalgo

  4. INQUISUR, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    M. Avena

  5. Unidad de Actividad Química, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. Gral. Paz 1400, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. A. Blesa

  6. Escuela de Postgrado, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. A. Blesa

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  1. L. Borgnino
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  2. M. G. Garcia
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  3. M. V. del Hidalgo
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  4. M. Avena
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  5. C. P. De Pauli
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  6. M. A. Blesa
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  7. P. J. Depetris
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Correspondence to L. Borgnino.

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Borgnino, L., Garcia, M.G., del Hidalgo, M.V. et al. Modeling the Acid–Base Surface Properties of Aquatic Sediments. Aquat Geochem 16, 279–291 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-009-9079-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-009-9079-y

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