New insights into the dynamics of adsorption equilibria of humic matter as revealed by radiotracer studies

Attaining the equilibrium state of adsorption took considerably longer for the humic acid than for the fulvic acid (24 h and 4 h, respectively). In desorption experiments, initiated by diluting the supernatant at constant pH, no net release was observed for both substances within a time frame of 4 weeks. However, when introducing radiolabelled humic or fulvic acid as a tracer into pre-equilibrated adsorption systems in the state of surface saturation, quantitative exchange was found to take place. This indicates that adsorption of humic matter is in fact a reversible process, albeit an exchange time of more than 4 weeks was required for both humic materials. Models for humic-bound contaminant transport (presuming dynamic equilibria) are thus applicable under appropriate conditions.