Thermodynamics of Lead Sorption and Desorption in Soils

Thermodynamics of Lead (Pb) sorption and desorption was investigated with samples of a clayic Torrifluvent, a sandy clayic Calciorthid, and sandy Quartzipsamment. The values of activation energy for Pb sorption on the Calciorthid (ranged from 20.7 to 27.7 kJ mol^?1) were higher than those of the Torrifluvent (ranged from 3.4 to 17.4 kJ mol^?1) and the Quartzipsamment (1.5 to 4.6 kJ mol^?1). The energies of activation for adsorption “E_a” were greater than those for desorption “E_d”, indicating that more energy was needed to sorb Pb than to desorb Pb. The enthalpy of activation (ΔH^*) values indicate that Pb sorption is endothermic reaction while Pb desorption is exothermic reaction. The entropy of activation (ΔS^*) values for Pb sorption were negative and increased with increasing surface coverage. The free energy of activation (ΔG^*) values ranged from 81.2 to 89.2 and from 83.6 to 84.0 kJ mol^?1 for Pb sorption and desorption respectively.