Dispersion of kaolinite by dissolved organic matter from Douglas- fir roots.

Abstract

The organic constituents of water extracts from Pseudotsuga menziesii roots that cause kaolinite dispersion were investigated. The dominant fraction causing dispersion included the hydrophobic acids and organics with molecular sizes >104 nominal molecular weight. Organic acids promoting kaolinite dispersion included aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids. Polycarboxylic acids appear to play the major role in kaolinite dispersion by dissolved organic matter in forests.-from Authors