Interfacial Chemistry of Rocks and Soils

Knowledge of the basic interactions that take place between geological materials and different substances is the first step in understanding the effects of adsorption and other interfacial processes on the quality of rocks and soils, and on driving these processes towards a beneficial or neutral result. Interfacial Chemistry of Rocks and Soils examines the different processes at solid and liquid interfaces of soil and rock, presenting a complete analysis that emphasizes the importance of chemical species on these interactions.

This Second Edition features novel results in the field and expanded coverage of the kinetics of interfacial processes. New content includes models of heterogeneous isotope exchange, sorption isotherms for heterovalent cation exchange, as well as sorption of anions by chemically modified clays.

Summarizing the results and knowledge of the authors’ research in this field over several decades, this volume:

• Explores the individual components of the studied systems: the solid, the solution, and the interface
• Discusses the characteristics and thermodynamics of the interface
• Profiles the most important analytical methods in the study of interfacial processes
• Demonstrates transformations initiated by interfacial processes
• Outlines avenues of treatment that may solve geological, soil science, and environmental problems

Drawn chiefly from the authors’ years of research at the Imre Lajos Isotope Laboratory in the Department of Physical Chemistry at the University of Debrecen in Hungary, this book discusses chemical reactions on the surfaces/interfaces of soils and rocks; examines the role of these processes in environmental, colloid and geochemistry; and explores the effects on agricultural, environmental and industrial applications.