Butanol degradation and volatilization in soils amended with spent acid or sulfuric acid

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 83 - 86
• Main Authors: Fairbanks, B. C., Schmidt, N. E., O'Connor, G. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 1985; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: acid‐amended soil; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; alkylation spent acid; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; butyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; n‐butanol; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Pollution; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Wastes; Degradation; Industrial waste; Phytotoxicity; Acids; Mineral amendment; Gasoline; Volatilization; Soil; Butanol; Alkylation; Land disposal; Sulfuric acid
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1985.00472425001400010016x

Butanol persistence may be an important consideration in determining the phytotoxic effects of alkylation spent acid added to soils. The degradation and volatilization of n(1‐14C)butanol were thus monitored in two calcareous soils from New Mexico amended or unamended with spent or reagent grade sulfuric acids. Degradation of butanol to CO2 was rapid and was the primary mechanism of loss from these soils. After 20 d, 14CO2 evolution averaged 58 and 51% of the added 14C for Glendale clay (Typic Torrifluvents) and Lea sandy loam (Petrocalcic Paleustolls), respectively; a majority of this loss occurred within 2 d. Acid type (spent or reagent grade) did not affect degradation, but 14CO2 production increased with acid rate. Volatilization was essentially complete within 1 d and averaged 8 and 16% of the added 14C for the Glendale clay and Lea sandy loam soils, respectively. Acid rate, but not acid type, affected volatilization loss. The summation of degradation and volatilization losses was similar for both soils and averaged 67% after 20 d, a majority of which was lost within 2 d.