Based on the conceptual model of cation-humic interactions considering the heterogeneous composition and polyelectrolyte nature of humic acids, the description of the interaction by the expression, log Kapp= log K - m log [M]+ a log
α - b log [Na+], is proposed, where Kapp=[M· · (zR)]/ ([M][R]), [M· · (zR)] is the concentration of the cation bound to the humic acid, [M] is the concentration of the free cation with charge z, and [R] is the concentration of the free anionic sites of the humic acid, [R]=(CR-z[M· · (zR)])α (CR is a total concentration of proton exchanging sites and α is a degree of dissociation). log K, m, a and b are the constant parameters depending on the cation and the humic acid. The expression is successfully applied to the experimental results on the complex formation (or protonation) of humate and polyacrylate (a homogeneous polymeric weak acid) with H+, NpO2+, Eu3+, Ca2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+ obtained under the condition where hydrolysis of cations and saturation of the reacting sites can be neglected.
Print ISSN: 0033-8230
Volume: 92, 09/2004
Pages: 559 - 565