Effect of Natural Organic Acids on Mobilization of Macro- and Microelements from Rocks

Abstract

Experimental study of leaching of the main cations (Na, K, Mg, and Ca), alkaline and alkali-earth microelements (Li, Rb, Cs, Be, Sr, and Ba), heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Tl, and Pb), hydrolyzate elements (Y, RZ, Ti, Th, and U), and anionic elements (F, Si, P, and V) from rocks of different acidity with distilled water and a multicomponent solution of organic acids, having the distribution of dissociation constants corresponding to natural dissolved organic matter was carried out. It has been shown that carboxylic acids, which are part of the dissolved organic matter contained in surface waters, cause a sharp increase in the mobilization of both the main cations and trace elements from silicate rocks. The chemical properties of the elements are of secondary importance, as was shown by the general correlation between the parameter related to the mobility of the elements at the initial stage of the leaching and their content in the rocks.