Geochemical and hydrological reactivity of heavy metals in soils

Description

Our technology-based society demands the use of enormous quantities of heavy metals. Yet society also demands the prevention, and the remediation, of soil contaminated with heavy metals. A unified presentation of recent developments that will help achieve these goals, Geochemical and Hydrological Reactivity of Heavy Metals in Soils discusses new techniques used to analyze the diverse array of surface reactions governed by physical, chemical, and biological processes.The book covers the reaction mechanisms of the component molecules, the linkages between these molecules, and the juxtaposition and spacing of reactive surface functional groups. It highlights analytical techniques for characterizing mobile soil colloids, provides the latest results on important biologically mediated pathways, and reveals how modeling perspectives from molecular to macroscopic levels are all used to gain new insights into metal contaminant processes in the environment. With contributions from a hand-picked panel and the editorial guidance of undisputed experts, the book focuses on the complexity of chemical processes in "real" systems and provides the tools used to understand them. One of the few books that comprehensively illustrates the cause-and-effect relationship of these chemical processes, Geochemical and Hydrological Reactivity of Heavy Metals in Soils is a practical guide for soil and groundwater scientists, ecologists, and government regulators.