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363545 
Journal Article 
Status and mobilization of trace elements in two ocherous soils of the Ruhr valley, Germany 
Rennert, T; Meissner, S; Totsche, KU 
2009 
Yes 
Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
ISSN: 1436-8730
EISSN: 1522-2624 
172 
4 
464-466 
This study was conducted to characterize the quantitative and qualitative trace element status in two ocherous surface soils from Germany and their mobilization by means of column-elution experiments. Precipitation of sesquioxides largely affected soil chemical properties, because the samples were enriched in Fe and Mn oxides. Higher pH values compared to the reference sample resulted from additional precipitation of secondary carbonates. The trace elements of the soils partially exceeded in precautionary values for loamy and silty soils in the case of Cd, Ni, Pd and Zn. Except for Cu and Pb, the total contents of trace metals and As were distinctly larger in the ocherous samples. The importance of the precipitates for contaminant binding was confirmed by the results of the sequential extractions. On the other hand, large fractions of Cu and Pb were associated with organic matter in the sample that had the highest C content. The release behaviour observed in the experiment with the REF sample was different. As with Pb, the contaminant concentrations in the eluates of the REF sample were always larger than those of the ocherous soils except for Ni. The release curves of all elements under study revealed a distinct effect of the flow interruption on the concentration as exemplarily shown for Pb from the REF soil. It is concluded that ocherous precipitates tend to accumulate inorganic contaminants, but given the abundance of the precipitates and the neutral pH, these soils rather act as contaminant sinks rather than sources. 
cadmium; chemical precipitation; contaminants; copper; lead; nickel; polluted soils; soil chemical properties; soil pollution; soil types; trace elements; zinc; Germany; Western Europe; Europe; Developed Countries; European Union Countries; OECD Countries; chemical properties of soil; microelements; Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy (JJ200); Pollution and Degradation (PP600); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400); Techniques and Methodology (ZZ900)