Adsorption of silica in river waters by soils in central Chile

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption of the silica in water by soils was investigated using principal river waters and soils collected in central Chile from about 34° to 41° south latitude. The adsorption of silica in water (y) was linearly proportional to the silica concentration in river waters (x) as shown by the following equation: y=bx-a where a and b were constants being subject to the nature of the soils. The silica contentration in river waters appeared to relate closely to the rocks in the catchment area. and was high in rivers from volcanic ash areas. However, the salt concentration had no correlation with the silica concentration, and tended to lower to the southward with an increase in annual precipitation and a decrease in annual mean temperature. Sulphate appreciably lowered the adsorption of silica by soils, although chloride and nitrate had little effect on the adsorption. The a-value, dissolution of silica in pure water, was the largest in paddy and alluvial soils, and both the a- and b-values were less in surface soils .in comparison with those of lower horizons. Soils caused neither adsorption nor dissolution of silica at a certain silica concentration. This silica zero adsorption concentration differed greatly from soil to soil, and the largest value which was observed in the surface soil of an irrigated paddy soil was so large that it could not adsorb silica from any river water in the central Chile. In contrast to this soil, an imogolitic subsoil of an Ando soil exhibited the highest adsorption concentration, i.e. it was possible to adsorb silica from every river water in the central Chile. Humus seemed to protect soil silica from dissolution and at the same time to prevent adsorption of silica by soils. Allophanic colloids were labile in water without humic-material, readily releasing silica into the water.