Adsorption of adenine on soil humic acids

ABSTRACT

Adsorption of adenine on an Eutric fluvisol humic acid and a Cambisol clay-humic acid complex was studied at four temperatures between 35 and 41C. Adenine showed high affinity towards the two adsorbents giving H-type isotherms at all temperatures. Though, the degree and intensity of adsorption decreased at increasing temperature. The adsorption on the humic acid proceeded probably through an electron- donor-acceptor mechanism. The adsorption mechanism[s] on the clay- humic acid complex was more complicated, since the surface of the complex is composed of the two heterogenous substances, humic acid and two- and three-layer clay minerals. It could be concluded that, if humic acid[s] enter living cell, it would harmfully affect cell growth