Thermodynamics of metal cation binding by a solid soil-derived humic acid: Binding of Fe(III), Pb(II), and Cu(II)

Metal binding and release by solid humic acids (HAs) in soils and sediments can affect metal mobility and bioavailability. Isotherms for tight binding of Fe(III), Pb(II) and Cu(II) by a solid humic acid at pH 2.0 fit the Langmuir binding model. Low pH was chosen to protonate the HA carboxylate groups and avoid metal cation hydrolysis. Binding of Fe(III), Pb(II) and Cu(II) occurs in one detectable step labeled A. Site capacities νA are temperature-independent from 10.0 to 40.0 °C and point to binding by charge-neutralization to form solid complexes M(OOC-R)n(s), where n appears to be 2 for Pb(II) and 3 for Fe(III). Thermodynamic data pairs (ΔHA, ΔSA) for metal binding are linearly correlated with previous data for Ca(II), Co(II) and Mg(II) binding by solid HAs.