Spectroscopic response of soil organic matter in mining area to Pb/Cd heavy metal interaction: A mirror of coherent structural variation

Abstract

Understanding the interaction between heavy metals and soil organic matter (SOM) in mining area is important for the clarification of the environmental behaviors of heavy metals. In this work, the coherence of structural changes of SOM during interaction with Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions were examined by using UV–vis/fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with correlation analyses. The result showed that phenolic- and carboxylic-like groups of SOM were engaged in the complexation of heavy metals (Pb2+ and Cd2+) with SOM, resulting in the formation of highly conjugated macromolecules/aggregates and an increase in molecular weight/size. Fluorescent humic-like, fulvic-like, and protein-like species were involved in the binding with Pb2+/Cd2+ ions, which were closely correlated with phenolic-like and carboxylic-like constitutes. SOM was more favorable to bind with Pb2+ ions than Cd2+ ions, with a less susceptive of SOM structure to Pb2+/Cd2+ ions in the mining area compared to those off the mining area under heavy metal stress. These results may provide a new insight for the treatment and remediation of heavy metal-polluted soil in mining area.