Geochemical Equilibrium Modeling in Soils and Sediments - Softcover

Schwab, Arthur Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0443266514 ISBN 13: 9780443266515

Publisher: Elsevier, 2026

Synopsis

Geochemical Equilibrium Modeling in Soils and Sediments provides a systematic examination of the application of thermodynamic principles to chemical reactions of elements in soils. Classical thermodynamic concepts are introduced, providing a theoretical foundation. Equilibrium reactions are then discussed element-by-element in order of decreasing average abundance in the solid phase of soils and sediments. Solid phase transitions, dissolution, volatilization, and aqueous speciation are investigated in detail, with each chapter giving readers greater depth of understanding of these complex systems.

The book represents a modernization of the approach to geochemical modeling, updating thermodynamic data and focusing on reactions that are known to occur at the solid-solution interface in soil and sediment environments. Readers are shown how these developments are integrated into geochemical modeling and how to interpret geochemical modeling results. The tools in this book will further allow readers to understand the interactions among elements, predict solubility as the physical environment changes, and give them the means to anticipate chemical and biological lability in response to perturbations.

• Discusses chemical equilibrium concepts applied to soils and sediments to explain trends in mineral transformation, aqueous transformations, and retention of contaminants in soils
• Systematically organizes elements in order of decreasing total concentrations, providing a logical approach to determining solubility controls
• Explains trends in mineral transformation, aqueous transformations, and in the retention of contaminants in soils

About this title

About the Author

Paul Schwab is a soil physical chemist with 40 years of experience in research and teaching. His career has focused on the environmental applications of soil chemistry to a broad spectrum of issues including heavy metals, contaminant organics, fertilizers, and pesticides in soils and sediments. He has over 130 total peer-reviewed publications, 13,000 citations of his work, authored/edited two books, and received numerous awards for research. He taught soil chemistry for more than 35 years. The application of chemical equilibrium has been key to his studies, playing a role in his work starting with his graduate career (1976) through the present day.

From the Back Cover

Geochemical Equilibrium Modeling in Soils and Sediments provides a systematic examination of the application of thermodynamic principles to chemical reactions of elements in soils. Classical thermodynamic concepts are introduced, providing a theoretical foundation. Equilibrium reactions are then discussed element-by-element in order of decreasing average abundance in the solid phase of soils and sediments. Solid phase transitions, dissolution, volatilization, and aqueous speciation are investigated in detail. Each chapter gives the reader greater depth of understanding of these complex systems.

Geochemical Equilibrium Modeling in Soils and Sediments represents a modernization of the approach through geochemical modeling, updating thermodynamic data, and focusing on those reactions that are known to occur at the solid-solution interface in soil and sediment environments. Readers are shown how these developments are integrated into geochemical modeling and how to interpret geochemical modeling results. The tools in this book will further allow readers understand the interactions among elements, predict solubility as the physical environment changes, and the means to anticipate chemical and biological lability in response to perturbations.

Edition details

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0443266514
• ISBN 13: 9780443266515
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 578