Abstract

The applicability of Rothmund-Kornfeld semiempirical approach to describe the binary cationic exchange equilibria K-Ca, K-Mg, Ca-Mg, and Ca-Zn carried out on variable surface charge synthetic aluminosilicates with and without coating (10 samples at all), was studied. The equivalent fraction of adsorbed ions and the equilibrium constan results were compared with those obtained by using the Gaines-Thomas approach, widely used and validated in cation exchange studies carried out on variable surface charge systems. The synthetic aluminosilicates (with and without coatings of iron oxides and organic matter) present a higher cationic exchange capacity (CEC) and K selectivity than similar soils and fractions. The equivalent fraction of adsorbed ions obtained by both aproaches correlates, r 2 ranges between 0.962-0.998. The natural logarithm of the thermodynamic constant determined by both approaches correlates with r 2=0.992. The slight observed differences are probably due to integration errors associated with the resolution of equation involved in the Gaines-Thomas calculations. The Rothmund-Kornfeld model can be applied to the describe the binary cation exchange equilibria carried out on synthetic variable surface charge systems, with independence of K selectivity and CEC magnitude of samples.