Heat–induced changes in soil properties: fires as cause for remobilization of chemical elements

Abstract Exposure of soil constituents to elevated temperatures during wildfire can significantly affect their properties and consequently, increase the mobility bound contaminants. To estimate potential wildfires influence metal remobilization from burned due changes in cation exchange capacity (CEC) after organic matter combustion mineral alteration degradation, exposure different was investigated. This accomplished through analysis geochemical, mineralogical surface physicochemical a sample exposed laboratory. Heating at 200 °C, 500 °C 850 resulted an pH (from 5.9 12.3), decrease 47.2 7.3 cmol + kg ?1 ) specific area (observed only °C), that are associated with structural modifications clay minerals ferromagnetic minerals. Extraction showed concentration almost all analysed elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn Zn) eluates. The observed increase, following high– temperature heating (500 as much 15 times higher (e.g., Al), compared native (25 °C). strongly indicates act trigger for heavy metals.