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Division of Soil and Land Resources University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-2339
dgstrawn{at}uidaho.edu
H.M. Selim and D.L. Sparks (ed.) 2001. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. Hardback, 249 pp. $295.00. ISBN 1-56670-531-2.
The fate of contaminants in the environment is controlled by several fundamental processes. The book Heavy Metals Release in Soils focuses on two of these processes, sorption–desorption and transport in soils, with emphasis on desorption. The theme of this book is that chemical desorption reactions are independent of sorption reactions, and therefore need to be studied. Many examples from both published data and new data are given to support this theme. Thus, this book brings to light a much-needed focus in the field of chemical fate in the environment.
The book is a compilation of 11 chapters submitted by different authors. Many of the chapters are a mixture of basic review and case studies. True to its title, several of the chapters provide thorough discussions on topics related to the release of metals from soils. However, three of the chapters are seemingly misfits: Chapter 8 "Understanding Sulfate Adsorption Mechanisms on Iron (III) Oxides and Hydroxides: Results from ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy", Chapter 7 "Soil Properties Controlling Metal Partitioning", and Chapter 11 "Chemical Structures of Soil Organic Matter and Their Interactions with Heavy Metals," are not as closely focused on desorption processes as the other chapters. Nevertheless, these chapters are quite interesting reading on chemical reaction processes in soils. Chapter 2, "Anion and Cation Transport in Zeolitized Tuffs," also does not directly discuss desorption, but does address metal retardation during solute flow through columns.
The first four chapters of this book focus on incorporating surface reaction models with transport equations. The surface reaction models include kinetics, ion exchange equilibrium, and equilibrium partition coefficients. In many cases, demonstrations of using these models to predict both sorption and desorption phenomena are given. The predominance of the discussion in these chapters is on the reaction modeling, and less on the transport modeling. Results from incorporation of these models into transport equations are directly relevant to predicting the fate of chemicals in contaminated soils, since once a soil is contaminated, the controlling process for transport is desorption or dissolution, which are surface reactions.
Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to the kinetics of sorption release processes in soil. Chapter 5 presents a mathematical approach to modeling rate-limited reactions, including desorption, called phase plane analysis. The approach is novel and provides new insights into desorption hysteresis and the time required for sorption–desorption equilibrium. Despite the novelty of the approach, many of its nuances are not immediately clear, making it necessary to do some backtracking and looking up references to gain a full appreciation of the research. Chapter 6 uses traditional kinetic experiments and modeling to investigate EDTA-promoted metal desorption from contaminated soils. Results provide operationally defined labile and slowly labile fractions that are useful for understanding contaminant availability.
Chapters 9 and 10 present reviews of the basic environmental chemistry of the metalloids As and Se, as well as case studies. For the Se study, adsorption and desorption equilibrium isotherms are presented, while the As study involved both kinetic and microscopic investigations of As in a contaminated soil. Even though one would not consider these elements heavy metals as stated in the book's title, they are environmentally important, and the chapters provide insight into their desorption behavior.
In summary, this book presents some very good information on an important topic, desorption and hysteresis in soils. All of the chapters are interesting and worth reading. A major downfall is that each chapter is written by separate authors and is independent of the other chapters. This results in repetition of some material and a lack of fluidity through the book. In addition, the book has several chapters that deviate from the theme of heavy metal release. Despite these criticisms, the chapters in the book are interesting reading and will serve as a good references for writing papers and grant proposals. So, if you can afford nearly $300, this book is worth adding to your collection; alternatively, request your library purchase a copy.
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