Effects of ionic strength and pH on the stability constants of the complex of Co(II) with soil fulvic acid

The stability constants for tracer concentrations of Co(II) complexes with the red earth fulvic acid were determined at pH 3.8–6.8 and ionic strength 0.0010–1.0 mol/l by using the cation exchange equilibrium method and the radiotracer⁶⁰Co. The effects of ionic strength and pH on the stability constants of 1∶1 Co(II) complexes were investigated, and it was found that the stability constants of complexes of humic substances do not vary with ionic strength and pH in a manner similar to that of simple complexes.     

Interaction of humic and fulvic acids with Th(IV)

The binding of Th(IV) to three humic and two fulvic acids has been studied using a solvent extraction technique. The results are interpreted to indicate the formation of two types of thorium binding sites in the humic polymer containing one or two carboxylate groups. High complex stability is observed and thorium humate binding constants increase with increasing ionization of the humic (fulvic) acid polyelectrolyte. The results are interpreted using a modified Born equation for electrostatic interaction. Thermodynamic results indicate that the great stability of these complexes is derived from a very favorable complexation entropy.     

Spectrophotometric determination of stability constants of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with N-substituted hydrazinedithiocarboxylic acids

The stability constants of Ni(II) complexes with 2-methylhydrazinedithio-carboxylic and 3,3-dimethylhydrazinedithiocarboxylic acids and Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with 3-methyl-3-phenylhydrazinedithiocarboxylic acid have been determined in aqueous solution at 25°C and I = 0.01 M. The Bjerrum method of corresponding solutions has been applied, revealing the simultaneous presence of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes in solution.     

Ultraviolet absorbance titration for determining stability constants of humic substances with Cu(II) and Hg(II)

We describe an ultraviolet (UV) absorbance titration method that can be used to determine complexing capacities (C_L) and conditional stability constants (log K) of humic substances (HSs) with metal ions such as Cu(II) and Hg(II). Two fulvic acids (FA) and one humic acid (HA) were used for this study. UV absorbance of HSs gradually increased with the addition of Cu(II) or Hg(II) after blank correction, and these increases followed the theoretical 1:1 (ligand:metal ion) binding model. The results from the absorbance titration calculation for HSs with Cu(II) and Hg(II) compared well with those from fluorescence quenching titration. The titration of the model compound l-tyrosine with Cu(II) proved the validity of this method, and the K and C_L were within 2.3% and 7.4% of the fluorescence quenching titration. The results suggest that the UV absorbance titration can be used to study the binding capacities of HSs and/or dissolved organic matter (DOM) with trace metals. The advantages and disadvantages of the absorbance titration method were also discussed.     

Interaction of humic and fulvic acids with Eu(III) and Am(III)

The binding constants of Eu(III) and Am(III) with fulvic and humic acids have been measured by a tracer method. The binding constants of these acids exhibited a polyelectrolyte enhancement factor of 10⁴–10⁵ when compared to the analogous monomer ligands. Evidence was found for binding by two types of sites with 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry.     

Use of ion exchange for the determination of stability constants of metal-humic substance complexes

Humic substances (HSs) occur throughout the ecosphere in soils, waters and underground systems. The strong complexation of HSs is of importance in the migration of radionuclies in geological media. Renewed interest in stability constants of complexes of radioelements and radionuclides with humic and fulvic acids has been generated by problems associated with the nuclide migration in the environment. Use of the ion exchange method for the determination of conditional stability constants of metal-HS complexes was examined and reviewed. The complexation of HS to metal ions cannot be described in rigorous mathematical terms because of the ill-defined nature of HSs in contrast with the complexation of single ligands. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of Schubert's and, Ardakani-Stevenson's, curve fitting methods were discussed. The great stabilities of HS complexes to rare earths (Yb(III), Tb(III), Eu(III), Gd(III)), americium(III), cobalt(II), uranyl(VI) and thorium(IV) were revealed.     

The determination of the stability constants of mixed ligand complexes of adenine and amino acids with Ni(II) by potentiometric titration method

A potentiometric titration technique has been used to determine the stability constants for the various complexes of Ni(II) with adenine (A) as primary ligand and selected amino acids (L) as secondary ligands. Ternary complexes of amino acids are formed in a stepwise mechanism, whereby (A) binds to Ni(II), followed by interaction with ligand (L), whereas thiol-containing ligands form ternary complexes through a simultaneous mechanism. The formation constants of the complexes were determined at 25 °C and ionic strength 0.1 M NaNO₃. The relative stabilities of the ternary complexes are compared with those of the corresponding binary complexes in terms of Δlog K values. The concentration distribution of the complexes are evaluated.     

Stability constants for the complexes of transition-metal ions with fulvic and humic acids in sediments measured by gel filtration

The molecular-weight distributions of fulvic and humic acids in sediments and their complexes with metal ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Mn(2+)) were investigated by gel filtration. In all cases, metal complexes were found in the fulvic and humic acids. In the complexes the metals were bound to the high molecular-weight fulvic and humic polymers. By use of gel filtration, stability constants for the complexes of copper, zinc and manganese with fulvic acids have been measured. Scatchard plots indicate the presence of two classes of binding site with stability constants of 2.3 x 10(7) and 1.4 x 10(6) for copper, 2.1 x 10(6) and 6.6 x 10(4) for zinc and 1.8 x 10(5) and 7.3 x 10(3) for manganese, respectively.     

Determination of stability constants for rare earth elements and fulvic acids extracted from different soils

Fulvic acids (FAs) were extracted by alkali extraction from different soil samples in China, then purified using resins and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The complexing ability of FAs was investigated by measuring the stability constants of rare earth elements (REEs) (La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, Gd³⁺, Y³⁺) with FAs by the ion exchange technique. The results indicated that maximum binding ability forY³⁺ (4.414.44) was higher than other REEs (La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, Gd³⁺) (0.721.03). There were two types of binding sites in the functional groups of fulvic acids. The complexing reaction followed two steps. The stability constants (K₁ and K₂) of REEs with FAs were calculated from experimental data by division of Scatchard plots into two straight-line segments. Y³⁺ (log K₁=5.72±0.05, log K₂=4.83±0.01) also has higher stability constants than the other four REEs (log K₁=4.37±0.16, log K₂=3.62±0.28).     

Binding constants of lead by humic and fulvic acids studied by anodic stripping square wave voltammetry

A better understanding of metal ion binding to soil organic substances is of fundamental importance in geochemical modeling of environments. Fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA) make up an important part of soil organic matter, and their binding capacity affects the fate of metal ions and plays an important role in their mobility. Binding constants of Pb(II) to HA and FA were evaluated by anodic stripping square wave voltammetry (ASSWV) where the binding reaction was performed at pH 4.5 in a medium of 0.020 mol l⁻¹ KNO₃. Results showed that ASSWV technique was well suited for the estimation of the binding capacity of a natural organic matter towards heavy metals. Based on the voltammetric titration curves, binding constants of Pb(II) complexes formed with HA and FA were 0.78 × 10⁶ and 0.15 × 10⁶ mol⁻¹ l, which indicated that complex of Pb²⁺ with HA was more stable than with FA. The average molecular weight of HA and FA prepared from soil samples were also found to be 1821 g mol⁻¹ and 805 g mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Determination of the composition and the stability constants of complexes of mercury (II) with amino acids

The execution of a titration rarely performed, or of one with a reagent of limited stability, may be facilitated by applying multiparametric curve-fitting to titration-curve data in such a way that the amount of the substance titrated and the concentration of the reagent are evaluated simultaneously; the necessity for prior standardization of the reagent is thereby eliminated. In the potentiometric titration of acetate ion, a very weak base, with unstandardized hydrochloric acid, the accuracy and precision of the concentration of acetate thus obtained are approximately five times better than those which can be secured by titration with standardized acid and location of the point of maximum slope. The accuracy and precision of the concentration of acid are comparable to those that can be secured in very careful standardizations against a primary standard that gives a titration curve of far more favorable shape.     

Immunological determination of triazine pesticides bound to soil humic acids (bound residues)

An immunological method for the determination of triazine herbicides covalently bound to soil humic acids has been developed. A sandwich-immunoassay has been performed, based on both polyclonal humic acid-antibodies and monoclonal triazineantibodies. A peroxidase-labelled third antibody has been used for the photometric detection. A triazine-humic acid conjugate served as calibration standard. The coupling density for this conjugate has been determined by measuring the difference of free amino groups both with ninhydrin and with the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid method. In addition, the coupling density has been confirmed by scintillation counting using a ¹⁴C-atrazine derivative. Due to nonspecific interactions between antibody proteins and humic acids, different blocking steps had to be performed. Finally, the assay has been applied to a triazine contaminated soil sample. Humic acids (including bound residues) have been extracted by diluted sodium carbonate solution. Concentrations of bound atrazine residues have been found in the range of 2 mg/kg soil on fields where triazine herbicides has been applied over a period of 21 years. These results are comparable to both the applied amount and the nonextractable fraction.     

Immunological determination of triazine pesticides bound to soil humic acids (bound residues)

An immunological method for the determination of triazine herbicides covalently bound to soil humic acids has been developed. A sandwich-immunoassay has been performed, based on both polyclonal humic acid-antibodies and monoclonal triazineantibodies. A peroxidase-labelled third antibody has been used for the photometric detection. A triazine-humic acid conjugate served as calibration standard. The coupling density for this conjugate has been determined by measuring the difference of free amino groups both with ninhydrin and with the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid method. In addition, the coupling density has been confirmed by scintillation counting using a (14)C-atrazine derivative. Due to nonspecific interactions between antibody proteins and humic acids, different blocking steps had to be performed. Finally, the assay has been applied to a triazine contaminated soil sample. Humic acids (including bound residues) have been extracted by diluted sodium carbonate solution. Concentrations of bound atrazine residues have been found in the range of 2 mg/kg soil on fields where triazine herbicides has been applied over a period of 21 years. These results are comparable to both the applied amount and the nonextractable fraction.     

Complexation of americium(III) with humic acid by cation exchange and solvent extraction

Complexation of Am(III) with humic acid was studied at various pHs in 0.1M NaClO₄. The stability constants of the Am(III)—humate complexes were determined by a cation-exchange method. The values of log₁ and log₂ increased slightly with increases of pH from 4 to 6 and were found to be 6.9 and 11.6, respectively, at a pH of 5. Markedly larger values than these were obtained by a solvent extraction method. This discrepancy was also revealed by summarizing data from several literature sources. It is very likely that this can be ascribed to decreases in either humic acid and/or the extractant from the extraction system due to humate interactions at the aqueous-organic interface.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Potentiometric determination of stability constants of inorganic cyclophosphate complexes with copper(II), cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions

The stability constants of the complexes of cyclophosphate anions and copper(II), cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions were determined by potentiometry with the use of ion-selective electrodes. For each metal ion, the stability constant of the 1:1 complex increases linearly with the charge on the phosphate ion. For the same cyclophosphate ion, the stability constants also increase with increase in the crystal radii of the cation, i.e. in the order: Cu²⁺ < Cd²⁺ < Pb²⁺. These results suggest that the complex formed is a typical outer-sphere type based on electrostatic forces.     

Study of the complex formation of copper(II) by humic and fulvic substances

A study of the complexation of copper(II) by fulvic substances, based on ion-selective electrode measurements, is reported. The influences of the copper concentration (10^-6 –1O^-4 M), fulvic acid concentration (2–100 mg 1^-1), pH (3–8) and calcium concentration (10^-4–5 × 1O^-3 M) are given particular attention. The effects of statistical errors on the measurement of the values of the complex-formation parameters are considered. These parameters are measured for various surface-water samples, aqueous soil extracts, peat water and solutions of organic matter formed by in vitro decomposition of leaves. In general, these parameters vary little with actual source for a particular type of water.     

Determination of stability constants of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II)-nitrilotriacetate-penicillamine mixed complexes by electrophoresis

The stability constants of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II)-NTA-penicillamine were determined by paper electrophoresis. The values of these constants were found to be 5.06, 5.16 and 5.28 (log K values), respectively at mu=0.1 and 35 degrees C.