Procedures were developed for the partition of heavy metals (Cu, Co, and Zn) between complexed and uncomplexed forms in soil solution. Competition for the above cations by complexing agents naturally present in soil solution and added complexing agents that form metal complexes soluble in organic solvents was determined by measuring the distribution of metal between aqueous and organic phases in a two‐phase system. The degree to which the metal was complexed in the original soil solution could be deduced by comparing the amount of metal extracted from soil solution with that extracted from water at the same pH. Examination of soil solutions from several mineral soils indicated that in the case of Cu as much as 99% of the metal may exist in a complexed form.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hodgson et al. (1965) studied this question.