Heat-induced changes in soil properties: fires as cause for remobilization of chemical elements

Fajković, Hana; Ivanić, Maja; Nemet, Ivan; Rončević, Sanda; Kampić, Štefica; Vazdar, Leontić Dana (2022) Heat-induced changes in soil properties: fires as cause for remobilization of chemical elements. Journal of hydrology and hydromechanics, 70 (4). pp. 421-431. ISSN 0042-790X

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Abstract

Exposure of soil constituents to elevated temperatures during wildfire can significantly affect their properties and consequently, increase the mobility of the bound contaminants. To estimate the potential of wildfires to influence metal remobilization from the burned soil due to the changes in cation exchange capacity (CEC) after organic matter combustion and mineral alteration and degradation, changes in soil properties after exposure to different temperatures was investigated. This was accomplished through analysis of geochemical, mineralogical and surface physicochemical properties of a soil sample exposed to different temperatures in a laboratory. Heating the soil sample at 200°C, 500°C and 850°C resulted in an increase in pH (from 5.9 to 12.3), decrease in cation exchange capacity (from 47.2 to 7.3 cmol+kg-1) and changes in the specific surface area (observed only at 500°C), that are associated with structural modifications of clay minerals and ferromagnetic minerals. Extraction analysis showed the increase in the concentration of almost all analyzed elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn) in soil eluats. The observed increase, following high–temperature heating (500°C and 850°C), was as much as 15 times higher (e.g., Al), compared to the native soil sample (25°C). This strongly indicates that wildfire can act as a trigger for remobilization of heavy metals.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Heating ; soil ; trace metals ; physicochemical properties
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Geology NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Depositing User:	Maja Ivanić
Date Deposited:	05 Apr 2023 08:33
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/7865
DOI:	10.2478/johh-2022-0024

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