The effect of valence and Ionic-strength on the measurement of pH buffer capacity

Abstract

Although the measurement of pH buffer capacity (pHBC) is used to determine lime requirement and acid addition rate in acidification studies, the experimental conditions under which pHBC is determined have not been studied. The effect of valence and ionic strength on the measurement of pHBC was investigated on a range of soils. The effect of the monovalent or divalent accompanying ion was examined by establishing separate titration curves for each of 100 soils by adding incremental amounts of either Ca(OH)2, NaOH, HCl or H2SO4 to soil suspended (1 : 5) in water. Linear regressions were fitted to the linear portion of each titration curve and the slopes of these lines were used as a measure of pHBC. For each soil, the pH buffer capacities were statistically compared. The pHBC determined with Ca(OH)2 was significantly (P = 0.05) greater than that determined with NaOH in 92 soils and, on average (all soils), was 2.2 times the pHBC in NaOH. The effect of ionic strength on pHBC was investigated in each of 20 soils by titrating with HCI in water and suspensions at nominal ionic strengths of 0.006, 0.03 and 0.3 m. In all soils there was a trend for increasing pHBC with increasing ionic strength (I) and, for I < 0.03 m, there was a marked increase in pHBC with increasing I. The results are discussed in relation to the effect of valence and ionic strength on pH buffer capacity mechanisms, and the implications with respect to calculating acidification rates and lime requirements.