Effect of acid deposition on the displacement of Al(III) in soils

This study represents an assessment of some of the key factors influencing the mobility of Al(III) and its displacement in acid soils. This assessment is based on the effect of pH and other solution variables on the solubility of Al(III) and its complex formation with OH^?, F^? and organic ligands (fulvates and humates). Above all, the adsorption behavior of Al(III) on iron(III) (hydr)oxides and on SiO₂ on one hand, and the adsorption of organic acids and of humic substances on mineral surfaces on the other hand was investigated. Adsorption is interpreted in terms of surface complex formation equilibria; the mass law constants derived permit the modeling of adsorption as a function of solution variables. It is illustrated that the distribution of oxides and hydroxides in the soil profile affects the pH buffering, determines the mobility of the organic acids while the mobility of Al(III) is primarily governed by the formation and dissolution of Al(III) (hydr)oxides.