Sorption and migration of selected heavy metals in different soil matrices

Soils and ground waters have been extensively exposed to pollution by heavy metals from various anthropogenic sources. The presence of these metals in soils poses a significant environmental hazard, and one of most difficult contamination problems to solve. Description of some sorption and migration phenomena involving Pb, Zn, Ni and Cu in the surface layer of soil and sewage sludge compost was the primary objective of this work. A wide range of pH (3.0 - 5.5) of simulated acid rains, used to study the elution of metals from these matrices allowed a qualitative description of these metals' behaviour.