Mobility of copper in greenhouse soils.

ABSTRACT

The mobility of copper (Cu) was studied in 13 soil samples from greenhouses in Falasarna, northwestern Crete, Greece. The spatial variability of Cu concentration in greenhouse soils and their physicochemical characteristics were examined. The results showed that the concentrations varied considerably, between 15 and 4900 ppb. Sorption and leaching experiments--kinetic and equilibrium--were conducted in uncontaminated and contaminated soils, respectively. Both leaching and sorption equilibrium experiments were performed as a function of pH. The leaching experiment results indicated that the total dissolved Cu concentration was between 10 and 15 ppb at a pH of 7.5, which is below the drinking water standards. The results suggest that the kinetics of Cu leaching were fast and the leachate concentration was relatively low, whereas Cu sorption kinetics were rapid and the sorbed concentrations were significant.