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Ionicity of Clay–Cation Bonds in Relation to Dispersive Behavior of Mg and K Soil Clays as Influenced by pH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Yingcan Zhu Open the ORCID record for Yingcan Zhu [Opens in a new window] ,
Alla Marchuk  and
John McLean Bennett
Yingcan Zhu*
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
Alla Marchuk
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
John McLean Bennett
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: Yingcan.Zhu@usq.edu.au
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Abstract

The dispersive behavior dynamics of clay determine soil characteristics such as permeability and aggregate stability, and, consequently, crop productivity. Soil dispersion is heavily influenced by the ionicity of clay–cation bonds and has been shown to be related to the net negative charge and pH of the system. Little work has been done, however, which considers these factors together, especially for K and Mg clays. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of changing pH on the dispersive behavior of Mg and K homoionic clays, in comparison to Ca and Na clays under equivalent pH conditions. The clay fractions used here were extracted from three soils and have distinctly different mineralogies. These clays were treated to become homoionic with regard to Na, K, Ca, and Mg. Excess salts were removed by dialysis and pH was adjusted to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 for all clays, except Mg (pH range 3–7). Clay dispersion-flocculation dynamics were investigated, and the net negative charge, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity were measured. Mg has a similar but less flocculative effect than Ca, while K has a similar but less dispersive effect than Na, under similar pH conditions. The dispersive behavior of Na, K, Mg, and Ca homoionic clays was correlated well with the ionicity of clay–cation bonds at equivalent pH, with the degree of clay dispersion being explained by the pH, EC, ionicity, ζ-potential, and mean particle size of the clay–cation system. A predictive model for dispersion was developed with its applicability and limitations discussed.

Keywords

Clay dispersionClay mineralogyExchangeable cationspHZeta potential
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 68 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 588 - 600
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2020

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