Studies of heavy metals adsorption in soil play a key role in predicting environmental susceptibility to contamination by toxic elements. The objective of this study was to evaluate cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) adsorption in surface and subsurface soil. Samples of six soils: Xanthic Hapludox (XH1 and XH2), Typic Hapludox (TH), Typic Rhodudalf (TR), Typic Fluvaquent (TF), and Amazonian dark earths (ADE) from Eastern Amazonian, Brazil. The soils were selected for chemical, physical and mineralogical characterization and to determine the adsorption by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. All soils characterized as kaolinitic, and among them, XH1 and XH2 showed the lowest fertility. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms revealed a higher Cu (H curve) than Cd (L curve) adsorption. Parameters of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms indicate that soils TR, TF and ADE has the greatest capacity and affinity for metal adsorption. Correlation between the curve adsorption parameters and the soil attributes indicates that the pH, CEC, OM and MnO variables had the best influence on metal retention. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms satisfactorily described Cu and Cd soil adsorption, where TR, TF and ADE has a lower vulnerability to metal input to the environment. Besides the pH, CEC and OM the MnO had a significant effect on Cu and Cd adsorption in Amazon soils. Key words: Amazonian dark earths. Environmental management. Heavy metals. Isotherm. Soil pollution.
ResumoEstudos de adsorção de metais pesados no solo desempenham um papel chave em prever a susceptibilidade à contaminação do ambiente por elementos tóxicos. O objetivo foi avaliar a adsorção de cádmio (Cd) e cobre (Cu) na superfície e subsuperfície de seis solos Amazônicos: Latossolo Amarelo (XH1 e XH2), Latossolo Vermelho (TH), Nitossolo Vermelho (TR), Gleissolo Háplico (TF) e Latossolo AmareloTerra Preta de Índio (ADE) da Amazônia Oriental. Os solos foram selecionados para caracterização química, física, mineralógica e determinação da capacidade máxima de adsorção pelas isotermas de Langmuir e Freundlich. Todos os solos foram caracterizados como cauliníticos, e entre eles, XH1 e XH2 apresentaram menor fertilidade.