Influence of metals on solubility of soil organic matter

Treatment of the alkali-soluble organic matter of soil with a cation-exchange resin resin (Amberlite IR 120, H⁺ form) strongly modified the solubility characteristics of the organic matter, even though only part of the metals was removed. Two or more types of sorption sites were involved in the binding of metals by soil organic matter. The Amberlite removable metals interfered with the separation of humic from fulvic acid.