PROJECT: S-280 (Mineralogical Controls on Colloidal Dispersion and Solid-Phase Speciation of Soil Contaminants)

PROGRESS OF THE WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

The Southern Regional Technical Committee S-280, Mineralogical Controls on Colloidal Dispersion and Solid-Phase Speciation of Soil Contaminants, met at the NRCS Soil Survey Laboratory in Lincoln, Nebraska. A local field trip on Wednesday, June 3, examined Pleistocene loess and till stratigraphy with associated soils and paleosols near Lincoln. The major site was the Boswell clay pit of Yankee Hill Brick and Tile where clays used in brick-making are also exposed. Following the field trip, the meeting, which focused on completing the electronic publication from the previous project and on selecting soils and defining a path forward for the new project, commenced. Welcoming remarks were given by Mr. Jim Culver, Acting Director of the Soil Survey Laboratory and Dr. Berlie Schmidt gave an update on CSREES budgets and programs, which include NRI programs, water quality (special) grants, Fund for Rural America, and new initiatives in soil quality and air/water quality. Dr. Eric Young, the administrative advisor for S-280, also welcomed the group and discussed the annual requirement for impact statements.

The group reviewed the current version of the electronic publication of the S-207 project research (Southern Regional Cooperative Bulletin). The Bulletin is located on the web at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/research/s207/cover.htm.

The committee decided that the following items need to be addressed to complete the bulletin by October 1.

1. Discussion of Tables 8, 9, 10, and 11: Mark Walthall agreed to draft a discussion for these chemical data.

2. Updates to the quantitative mineralogy results and discussion of Tables 14, 15, and 16: Tasos Karathanasis, Willie Harris, and Lucian Zelazny will try to integrate the data from all three methods used (TGA, XRD, and DSC) to come up with a complete set of quantitative mineralogy numbers, and they will provide an explanation of how these numbers were derived. Any ideas on this issue should be sent to Tasos, Willie, or Lucian.

3. The web link to the Auburn database of XRD, TGA, and DSC results can be made through:

XRD data: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/xrd/
DSC data: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/dsc/
TGA data: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aaes/tga/

These links will be incorporated into the bulletin.

4. Front-end summary of electron microscopy section: The SEM results will be accessed in the bulletin as a stand-alone paper by Norman White and Joe Dixon. Dean Hesterberg will send a summary that he drafted to Dr. Dixon for comments and modifications.

5. Other changes: Correct Russell Lewis' name in the List of Contributors; add email addresses of all participants (Hesterberg will contact Thomas Young, the webmaster handling the electronic bulletin at NC State).

With regard to the model developed in the S-207 project to relate water-dispersible clay (WDC) to various soil parameters, Dr. John Seaman of The University of Georgia, gave an overview of the 22 (of 150) parameters that were most highly correlated with WDC. John also did an experiment on one soil (Orangeburg) to determine whether there were differences between the mineralogical contents of samples dispersed in the WDC method used versus in the multiple water dispersions used to extract larger volumes of clay for the array of analyses performed in the S-207 project. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), John found no detectable differences in mineralogy between samples from the two extraction methods.

Other comments made that relate to both the old project (S-207) and the first objective of the new project (S-280) are as follows:

- It was pointed out that any future experiments on comparing WDC with multiple dispersions should include a smectitic soil.

- With regard to applied aspects of the group's research, the focus should perhaps address issues of fractionation during transport through the soil column (more relevant for fine clays fractions) rather than surface runoff (where coarse clay may be more relevant). It was noted that the fine-clay/coarse-clay ratios are usually greater at the top of the argillic horizon, suggesting transport of fine clay.

- For choosing soils to sample for the new project (based on the model developed from the old project), mineralogy may be a better delineator for choosing soils than the Ultisols and Alfisols groupings.

- The new project (Objective 1) should include a soil from the Triassic Basin in the eastern U.S.

- Quantitative mineralogical results (when in final form) should be checked for correlation with WDC and possibly included in the model.

Dr. Ben Hajek from Auburn University demonstrated the current version of the mineralogy map. It was decided that the mineralogy map will be published as a separate regional bulletin. Eric Young has made a request to all of the Southern Region Experiment Stations to share the cost of mounting the map on the world wide web. He has received favorable responses from all of the stations that have so far replied to his request.

The group discussed the format and content of the mineralogy map. It was suggested that, for geographical reference, a star be placed at the capital of each state, and perhaps another symbol be added to designate the location of each Experiment Station. Because this map should be useful to a wide audience, it was suggested that the completed product be advertised in the ASA Newsletter, the Clay Minerals Society Newsletter, and on the web in the SSSA Div. S-2 Listserver and the Clay Minerals Society Listserver.

The remainder of the meeting focused on the new project. The group discussed soil sample selection for objective 1 (water-dispersible clay modeling) and objective 2 (contaminated soil characterization) of the new project. The following actions were recommended:
 
 

Objective 1

(i) Dr. Warren Lynn will print out lists of soils in the NRCS database with the following hierarchy of variables:

(i) By state
(ii) Alfisols versus Ultisols
(iii) CEC/clay ratio
(iv) dithionite Fe
(v) pH
(vi) organic carbon
(vii) Ba-TEA (pH 8.2) extractable acidity

(iii) A screening committee consisting of Warren Lynn, Mark Walthall, and John Seaman will make a first iteration on selecting a representative cross section of samples to be included in Objective 1 to evaluate the model in the new project.

Objective 2

1. Participants should bring a list of contaminated soils that they propose be included in the second objective, along with data on heavy metal concentrations, pH, soil classification, soil mineralogy (if available), and any other pertinent data that would be useful for making a final selection of soils. Two contaminated soils, one in Texas with Cr contamination and one in North Carolina with Cu, Zn, and Pb contamination, have been proposed by Drs. Dixon and Hesterberg.

Other meetings of the S-280 committee are scheduled for Monday evening, October 19, 1998 at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA meetings in Baltimore, MD.

and Summer 1999 at Virginia Tech (Lucian Zelazny, host).

SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS:

Through a large cooperative effort, the former project generated a massive data base on the physicochemical and mineralogical properties controlling colloid generation on a wide range of representative soils of the Southern region. This data base along with an interpretive summary will be available shortly on the world wide web and can be accessed for a variety of purposes by researchers and managers in soil and environmental science and engineering. A robust statistical colloid dispersion model (DISPERSE) has been devised and is in the process of being validated in the current project. The validation and refinement of the model in the new project will result in a tool that can be used in identifying and managing soils prone to erosion and or subsurface colloid transport, both important vectors for the enhanced transport of pesticides and nutrients from agricultural systems and of metal and organic contaminants from industrial waste sites.
 
 
 
WORK PLANNED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR:

The NRCS database will be searched to identify possible soils for the model validation based on the seven important variables that are contained in the data base. Based on the data base search, the committee plans to report on the first-cut selection of soils chosen for the validation of the DISPERSE model at the October meeting in Baltimore. Ideally, the selection will be such that some of the variables will be held constant, possibly by choosing surface soils along a catena. The committee members are also to begin to identify contaminated soils for use in the studies related to objective two. The preliminary list of potential sites is to be compiled at the October meeting in Baltimore with final selection to be made at the spring meeting at Virginia Tech.
 

Harris, W.G. 1998. Hydrologically-linked Spodosol formation in the
     Southeastern United States. In J.L. Richardson and M.J. Vepraskas
     (eds.) Wetland soils: their genesis, hydrology, landscape, and
     separation into hydric and nonhydric soils (in press).

Reddy, K.R., E.M. D'Angelo, and W.G. Harris. 1998. Biogeochemistry of
     wetlands. In M. Sumner (ed.) Handbook of soil science (in press).

Georgia

Hunter, D.B., W.P. Gates, P. M. Bertsch and K. M. Kemner. 1998. Degradation
     of Tetraphenylboron at Hydrated Smectite Surfaces Studied by Time Resolved
     IR and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopies. Mineral-Water Interfacial Reactions:
     Kinetics and Mechanisms, D. L. Sparks (ed.) American Chemical Society
     Symposium Series Volume 715 (in press).

Kentucky

Karathanasis, A.D. 1997. X-Ray Fluorescence, XRD and DSC Analysis of
     Sediments from Selected Features and Bones. p. 817-824. In T.D.
     Dillehay (ed.) Monte Verde: A Late Pleistocene Settlement in Chile, Vol
     2: The Archaelogical Context and Interpretation. Smithsonian Institution
     Press, Washington, D.C.

Louisiana

Walthall, P.M. 1998. Weathering processes. In C.W. Finkl (ed.).
     The Encyclopedia of Soil Science and Technology. Van Nostrand Reinhold,
     New York, NY (in press).

Mississippi

Simpson, A.J., R.E. Boersma, W.L. Kingery, R.P. Hicks, and M.H.B. Hayes.
     1997. Applications of NMR spectroscopy for studies of the molecular compositions
     of humic substances. In M.H.B. Hayes and W.S. Wilson (ed.). Humic
     substances, peats and organic amendments: Health and environmental aspects.
     p. 46-62. The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England.

Texas

Dixon, J.B. 1998. Roles of clay and oxide minerals in soils. In:
     Environmental Interactions of Clay Minerals. Springer-Verlag, New York.
     p. 37-53.

Dixon, J.B. 1998. Manganese Oxides in Soils and Weathered Rocks, Chapter
     11, Environmental Soil Mineralogy.


Virginia

Feldman, S.B., L.W. Zelazny, M.J. Pavich, and H.T. Millard, Jr. 1998.
     Late-Pleistocene Eolian Activity and Post-Depositional Alternation in the
     Piedmont of Northern Virginia. In G.M. Clark, H.H. Mills, and S.J.
     Kite (eds.), Regoliths in the Appalachian Highlands Beyond the Wisconsin
     Glacial Borders, Geol. Soc. Am. (in press).

Feldman, S.B., and L.W. Zelazny. 1998. The Chemistry of Soil Minerals.
     In P. M. Huang (ed.), The Future Prospects for Soil Chemistry. Soil
     Sci. Soc. Am. Special Pub. (in press). Madison, Wisconsin.


Proceedings

Florida

Harris, W.G., and W. Hurt. 1998. Introduction to soils of subtropical
     Florida. In K.R. Reddy (ed.) Proceedings of the conference on
     Biogeochemistry of Phosphorus in Florida Ecosystems (in press).

Rhue, R.D., and W.G. Harris. 1998. Phosphorus sorption/desorption reactions
     in soils and sediments. In K.R. Reddy (ed.) Proceedings of the conference
     on Biogeochemistry of Phosphorus in Florida Ecosystems (in press).


Georgia
Seaman, J.C., P.M. Bertsch, and R.N. Strom. 1997. Tritium migration
     in an injection well system: Decoupling physical and chemical transport
     processes in the field. pp 420-423. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.) Proceedings
     of the 1997 Georgia Water Res. Conf., Athens, GA.


Mississippi

Kingery, W.L., and K.O. Willeford. 1997. Phosphorus metabolism in grassland
     soil as influenced by enzyme-clay interactions. p. 17-22. In Topics
     in Below ground Ecology/Physiology of Forages. Proc. 53rd Southern Pasture
     and Forage Crop Improvement Conf., April 12-13, Fort Worth, TX.

Boersma, R.E., W.L. Kingery, M.H.B. Hayes, and R.P. Hicks. 1997. Characterization
     of humic substances complexation of cadmium by solution-state 113Cd-NMR
     spectroscopy. Pp.137-138. In I.K. Iskandar, S.E. Hardy, A.C. Chang,
     and G.M. Pierzynski (ed.). Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference
     on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Berkeley, CA.

Boersma, R.E., W.L. Kingery, C. Hadden, M.A. Locke, and R.P. Hicks.
     1997. Enhancement of functional group assignment in humic substances using
     the 1H-13C HMQC experiment. p. 146. In Proceedings
     of the 38th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference, Orlando,
     FL.


Journal Articles


Florida

Zhou, M., R.D. Rhue, and W.G. Harris. 1997. Phosphorus sorption characteristics
     of Bh and Bt horizons from sandy coastal plain soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am
     J. 61:1364-1369.


Georgia

Hunter, D.B. and P.M. Bertsch. In Situ Examination of Uranium Contaminated
     Soil Particles by Micro-X-Ray Absorption and Micro-Fluorescence Spectroscopies.
     Journal of Radio Analytical and Nuclear Chemistry (in press).

Bertsch, P.M. and D.B. Hunter. Elucidating Fundamental Mechanisms in
     Soil and Environmental Chemistry. Soil Sci. Soc. America Special Publication
     ÒFuture Prospects for Soil ChemistryÓ (in press).

McDonald, L.M., V.P. Evangelou, and P.M. Bertsch. 1998. The potential
     role of sediment mineralogy in regulatory aluminum concentrations in lakewater.
     Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 104: 41-55.

Seaman, J.C., P.M. Bertsch, and R.N. Strom. 1997. Characterization of
     Colloids Mobilized from Southeastern Coastal Plain Sediments. Environ.
     Sci. Technol. 31: 2782-2790.

Ford, R.G., P.M. Bertsch, and J.C. Seaman. 1997. Goethite morphologies
     investigated via X-ray diffraction of oriented samples. Clays and Clay
     Minerals 45: 769-772.

Bertsch, P.M., D.B. Hunter, P.R. Nuessle and S.B. Clark. 1997. Molecular
     Characterization of Contaminants in Soils and Waste-Forms by Spatially
     Resolved XRF & XANES Spectroscopy. J. of Physique 7: 817-818

Hunter, D.B., P.M. Bertsch., K.M. Kemner, and S.B. Clark. 1997. Distribution
     & Chemical Speciation of Metals & Metalloids in Biota Collected
     from Contaminated Environments by Spatially Resolved XRF, XANES, and EXAFS.
     J. of Physique 7: 767-771.

Kemner, K.M., D.B. Hunter, P.M. Bertsch, J.P. Kirkland, and W.T. Elam.
     1997. Determination of Site Specific Binding Environments of Surface Sorbed
     Cesium on Clay Minerals by CS-EXAFS. J. of Physique 7: 777-779.

Kemner, K.M., D.B. Hunter, E.J. Gall, P.M. Bertsch, J.P. Kirkland, and
     W.T. Elam. 1997. Molecular Characterization of Cr Phases in Contaminated
     Soils by Cr and Fe EXAFS: A Tool for Evaluating Chemical Remediation Strategies.
     J. of Physique 7: 811-812.

Gates, W.P., D.B. Hunter, P.R. Nuessle, and P.M. Bertsch. 1997. A time
     resolved XANES study of an organo-clay redox system. J. of Physique 7:
     785-787.

Masion, A. and P.M. Bertsch. 1997. Aluminum speciation in the presence
     of wheat root cell walls: A wet chemical study. Plant, Cell and Environment
     20: 504-512.

Dosskey, M.G. and P.M. Bertsch. 1997. Transport of dissolved organic
     matter through a sandy forest soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61: 920-927.

Ford, R.G., P.M. Bertsch, K.J. Farley. 1997. Changes in transition and
     heavy metal partitioning during hydrous iron oxide aging. Environ. Sci.
     Technol. 31: 2028-2033.


Kentucky

Zhang, Min, and A.D. Karanthanasis. 1997. Distribution Patterns of Fe-Mn
     Concretions in Alfisols of The Inner Bluegras Region in Kentucky. Geoderma
     (in press).

Zourarakis, D.P., M. Evans, and A.D. Karanthanasis. 1998. Preserving
     Mountain Mires and Related Soil Inclusions in Southern Appalachia: Mapping
     and Classification Challenges. J. Applied Ecol. (in press).

Barton, C.D. and A.D. Karathanasis. 1998. Aerobic and Anaerobic Metal
     Attenuation Processes in a Constructed Wetland Treating Acid Mine Drainage.
     Environmental Geosciences (in press).

Karathanasis, A.D. 1998. Subsurface Migration of Cu and Zn Mediated
     by Soil Colloids. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (in press).

Thompson , Y.L., A.D. Karathanasis, and C.D. Barton. 1998. Soil Morphology,
     Redox and Hydrologic Regimes of Some Seasonal Wetland Soils in Western
     Kentucky. Wetlands (in press).

Karathanasis, A.D. 1998. Colloid-Mediated Transport of Pb Through Soil
     Porous Media. Environ. Science (in press).

Barton, C.D., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1998. Renovation of a Failed Constructed
     Wetland Treating High Metal Load Acid Mine Drainage. Wetlands (in press).

Seta, A.K., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Colloid-Facilitated Transport
     of Atrazine Through Intact Soil Solumns. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61: 612-617.

Norfleet, M.L., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1996. Some Physical and Chemical
     Factors Contributing to Fragipan Strength in Kentucky Soils. Geoderma 71:
     289-301.

Barton, C., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Measuring Cation Exchange Capacity
     and Total Exchangeable Bases in Batch and Flow Experiments. Soil Technology
     11: 153-162.

Zhang, Min, and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Characterization of Iron-Manganese
     Concretions in Kentucky Alfisols with Perched Water Tables. Clays and Clay
     Minerals 45:428-439.


Louisiana

Seaman, J.C., P.M. Walthall, L.W. Zelazny, J.B. Dixon, and G.N. White.
     1997. Mineralogy and Charge Properties of Readily-Dispersible Colloidal
     Fractions from Selected Soils and Sediments of the Southern Region.
     Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin #388 (html Version)
     www.cals.ncsu.edu/research/s207/cover.html.

Walthall, P.M. and J.D. Nolfe. 1998. Poultry litter amendments and the
     mobility and immobility of phosphorus in soil landscapes of northern Louisiana.
     Louisiana Agriculture, 41:28-31.


North Carolina

Colberg, M.T., K. Carnes, A.E. Sez, C.S. Grant, K. Hutchison, and D.
    Hesterberg. 199x. Hydration and removal of supported phospholipid films
    in aqueous surfactant solutions. Thin Solid Films (In press).

Przepiora, A., D. Hesterberg, J.E. Parsons, J.W. Gilliam, D.K. Cassel,
    and W. Faircloth, 1997. Calcium sulfate as a flocculant to reduce turbidity
    of sedimentation basin water. J. Environ. Qual. 26: 1605-1611.

Przepiora, A., D. Hesterberg, J.E. Parsons, J.W. Gilliam, D.K. Cassel,
    and W. Faircloth. 1998. Field Evaluation of calcium sulfate as a chemical
    flocculant for sedimentation basins. J. Environ. Qual. 27: 669-678.

Hesterberg, D., D.E. Sayers, W. Zhou, G.M. Plummer, and W. P. Robarge.
     1997. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of lead and zinc speciation in a contaminated
     groundwater aquifer. Environ. Sci. Technol. 31: 2840-2846.

Hesterberg, D., D.E. Sayers,W. Zhou, W.P. Robarge, and G.M. Plummer.
     1997. XAFS characterization of copper in model systems of humic acid and
     illite. J. Phys. IV France 7 Colloque C2: 833-834.

Sayers, D.E., D. Hesterberg, W. Zhou, W.P. Robarge, and G.M. Plummer.
     1997. XAFS characterization of copper contamination in the unsaturated
     and saturated zones of a soil profile. J. Phys. IV France 7 Colloque C2:831-832.

Wang, Z., D. Hesterberg, W. Zhou, D. E. Sayers, and W. P. Robarge. 1998.
     Extended X-ray absorption fine structure study of mercury speciation in
     a flood plain soil. In: Contaminated Soils: Third International
     Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Paris, May 15-19,
     1995, R. Prost (ed.). D:\data\communic\009.PDF, colloque 85, INRA Editions,
     Paris, France.

Hesterberg, D. 1998. Biogeochemical cycles and processes leading to
     changes in mobility of chemicals in soils. Agric. Ecosys. Environ. 67:
     121-133.


Oklahoma

Ward III, P.A., and B.J. Carter. 1998. Paleopedologic interpretations
     of soils buried by Tertiary and Pleistocene-age volcanic ashes: southcentral
     Kansas, western Oklahoma, and northwestern Texas, USA. Quaternary International
     (in press).

Ward III, P.A., and B.J. Carter. 1998. Rates of stream incision in the
     middle part of the Arkansas River basin based on late Tertiary to mid-Pleistocene
     volcanic ash (in press).

Bement, L.C., and M. Hyman, M.E. Zolensky, and B.J. Carter. 1997. A
     painted skull from the Cooper Site: A Folsom bison kill in northwestern
     Oklahoma. Current Research in the Pleistocene 14: 6-9.


South Carolina

Cox, A.E., J.J. Camberato, and B.R. Smith. 1997. Phosphate availability
     and inorganic transformation in alum sludge-affected soil. J. Environ.
     Qual. 26: 1393-1398.


Tennessee

Sarkar, D., M.E. Essington, and K.C. Misra. 1997. Adsorption of mercury
     onto silica: an experimental study. Abstracts of The Geological Society
     of America. Vol. 29(3), March, 1997.

Sarkar, D., M.E. Essington, and K.C. Misra. 1997. Sorption of mercury
     by silica: influence of competing metals. American Geophysical Union Abstracts,
     Eos, Vol. 78(17):S174.


ThesisÕ

Louisiana


Brady, W.D. 1997. Movement of nitrate into and within the Mississippi
     River alluvial aquifer. M.S. Thesis. Louisiana State University. Agronomy
     Dept. 125 pages.

Nolfe, J.D. 1997. The fate of poultry litter phosphorus across the soil
     landscape. M.S. Thesis. Louisiana State University. Agronomy Dept. 85 pages.


North Carolina

Hansen, P. D. 1997. Chemical speciation and dissolution of copper, lead,
     and zinc in a contaminated soil as affected by redox potential. M.S. Thesis,
     NC State University, Raleigh, NC.


Oklahoma

Ponte, K.J. 1997. Practical approach to grouping soils by key soil properties.
     M.S. Thesis, Agronomy, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.


Virginia
Lusk, Mary Gilchrist. 1998. Sulfate dynamics and base cation release
     in a high elevation Appalachian forest soil. M.S. Thesis. Virginia Tech.
     205 pages.



Dissertations


Tennessee

Sarkar, D. 1997. Adsorption of mercury onto variable-charge surfaces.
     Ph.D. Dissertation. The University of Tennessee.

Texas

Kim, Jae Gon. 1998. Calcium Salts and Cationic Organic Polymers as Amendments
     for Remediation of Drilling Fluid Affected Soils. Ph.D. Dissertation, Texas
     A&M University, 118 pages.


Virginia

Thomas, Pamela J. 1998. Quantifying properties and variability of expansive
    soils in selected map units. Ph.D. Dissertation. Virginia Tech. 192 pages.


      

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