Kinetic approach to the chemical speciation of trace metals in soils†

Abstract

The reactivity of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) present in two polluted soils was studied using two extractants, EDTA and hydroxylamine. As the classical chemical speciation of trace metals in soils when using these reagents seems to be unreliable (readsorption phenomena, non-selectivity of chemical reagents, soil/solution ratio, etc.), we applied two different kinetic approaches to the results in order to determine the speciation of trace metals in the two soil samples studied. The advantages of and problems with these approaches are discussed.