Soil Dissolved Organic Matter Sorption as Influenced by Organic and Sesquioxide Coatings and Sorbed Sulfate

Abstract The sorption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its fractions as influenced by organic C (OC), sesquioxides amorphous Al(OH) 3 , ferrihydrite, goethite, and extractable SO 2− 4 was investigated by modifying the properties of the Bs horizon of an Entic Haplorthod. Coating the Bs material with OC extracted from the Oa horizon of a mor forest floor layer decreased the sorption of total DOC. The effects on the sorption of the hydrophobic DOC fraction were little, whereas the sorption of the hydrophilic fraction was strongly reduced. At the highest OC coating levels, a net release of hydrophilic DOC occurred, indicating a displacement of indigenous hydrophilic substances from the soil by the sorbing hydrophobic dissolved organic matter (DOM). Coating of the soil material with sesquioxides clearly increased the sorption of DOC and its fractions. The strongest effects occurred when amorphous Al(OH) 3 was added, followed by ferrihydrite and goethite. Increased contents of extractable SO 2− 4 did not affect the sorption of DOC on soil material. With increasing addition of DOC, however, the concentrations of SO 2− 4 in the equilibrium solution increased. Adsorbing DOM seems to displace SO 2− 4 bound to soil materials. Thus, DOM shows a higher affinity to sorb on soil material than SO 2− 4 .