Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1266
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1266
11 Jun 2024
 | 11 Jun 2024

Effect of colloidal particle size on physicochemical properties and aggregation behaviors of two alkaline soils

Yuyang Yan, Xinran Zhang, Chenyang Xu, Junjun Liu, Feinan Hu, and Zengchao Geng

Abstract. Soil colloidal particles are the most active components of all, and they also vary in elemental composition and environmental behaviors with the particle size. The purposes of the present study are to clarify how particle size affects the physiochemical properties and aggregation kinetics of soil colloids, and to further reveal the underlying mechanisms. Soil colloidal particles from two alkaline soils—Lou soil and cinnamon soil were subdivided into three ranges: d < 2 μm, d < 1 μm and d < 100 nm. The organic and inorganic carbon contents, clay mineralogy, surface electrochemical properties, including surface functional groups and zeta potentials, were characterized. Through time-resolved light scattering technique, the aggregation kinetics of soil colloidal fractions were investigated, and their critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) were determined. With decreasing colloidal particle diameter, the total carbon content, organic carbon, organic functional groups content and illite content all increased. The absolute zeta potential values and the charge variability decreased with decreasing particle diameter. The CCC values of Lou soil and cinnamon soil colloids followed the descending order of d < 100 nm, d < 1 μm, d < 2 μm. Compared with the course factions (d < 1 μm and d < 2 μm), soil nanoparticles were more abundant in organic carbon and more stable clay minerals (d < 100 nm), thus they exhibited strongest colloidal suspension stability. The differences in organic matter contents and clay mineralogy are the fundamental reasons for the differences in colloidal suspension stability behind the size effects of Lou soil and cinnamon soil colloids. The present study revealed the size effects of two alkaline soil colloids on carbon content, clay minerals, surface properties and suspension stability, emphasizing that soil nanoparticles are prone to be more stably dispersed instead of being aggregated. These findings can provide references for in-depth understanding of the environmental behaviors of the heterogeneous soil organic-mineral complexes.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Yuyang Yan, Xinran Zhang, Chenyang Xu, Junjun Liu, Feinan Hu, and Zengchao Geng

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1266', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Chenyang Xu, 20 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1266', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Jul 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Chenyang Xu, 20 Aug 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1266', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Chenyang Xu, 20 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1266', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Jul 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Chenyang Xu, 20 Aug 2024
Yuyang Yan, Xinran Zhang, Chenyang Xu, Junjun Liu, Feinan Hu, and Zengchao Geng
Yuyang Yan, Xinran Zhang, Chenyang Xu, Junjun Liu, Feinan Hu, and Zengchao Geng

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Short summary
With decreasing colloidal particle diameter, the total carbon content, organic carbon, organic functional groups content and illite content all increased. The critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) values of soil colloids followed the descending order of d < 100 nm, d < 1 μm, d < 2 μm, thus soil nanoparticles exhibited strongest suspension stability.