Influence of Organic Acids and Bases on the Mobility of Some Heavy Metals in Soil

The influence of organic acids and their sodium salts, amino acids and organic bases on the mobility of some heavy metals through the soil was examined by using thin layer chromatography. The organic acids, i.e., formic, acetic and oxalic; and amino acids i.e., glycine, alanine and valine have increased the mobility of heavy metals. However, no marked influence could be observed in the case of organic bases, i.e., nicotine and pyridine. The results have been explained on the basis of reaction mechanism of complex formation, their stability, molecular size, pH and the nature of the heavy metals in soil solutions.