INVESTIGATION ON USE OF A CHELATING RESIN FOR EXTRACTION OF SULPHUR FROM SOIL

Chelating resins have been used previously for the extraction of several organic soil constituents. Chelex 100 suspensions at pH ∼10.2 were not effective for the extraction of sulphur from selected soils even though the extraction period was extended to 12 days. the maximum amount extracted did not exceed 44% of the total soil sulphur. Very little sulphur was extracted by the resin at pH 7 whereas greater amounts were extracted by sodium pyrophosphate solution at this pH. When the sodium form of the resin, as supplied by the manufacturers, was used, the pH of the resin‐water mixture was approximately 10.2. This high pH appeared to be more important than the chelating ability of the resin in the extraction of sulphur from soil. As with other alkaline extractants, artifact formation may occur when the sodium form of the resin is used to extract soil organic matter. Copyright © 1969 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd