Metal Ion Binding and Exchange with Hydrogen Ions in Acid‐Washed Peat

Titration and electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of metal ion adsorption processes on acid peat were used to investigate metal‐proton exchange. Localization of ions at carboxylate sites is suggested but the data indicate that chelation mechanisms or sites of greatly different acid strength need not be involved. The peat is observed to behave very much like synthetic cross‐linked polycarboxylic acids in terms of metal ion adsorption. Most of the divalent ions adsorbed at acid pH appear to maintain a hydration sphere while the strongly immobilized Cu 2+ ion coordinates directly with functional oxygens of the peat.