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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

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Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Adsorption / desorption

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Adsorption to solid soil phase is possible.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Due to the ionic nature of the substance the calculation of sorption onto organic soil matter does not have any practical meaning (OECD 2007).

"Ammonia is bound in soil by the attraction of the positive charge on the ammonium ion to the negatively charged soil micelles. In soil, ammonium is adsorbed primarily by four mechanisms: chemical (exchangeable), fixation (non-exchangeable), reaction with organic matter and physical attractive forces."

 

"Since ammonia is so poorly mobile in soil, it is unlikely to leach to groundwater except under unusual circumstances, such as when the cation exchange capacity of the soil is exceeded. The worst situation for ammonium leaching would probably occur when the soil is at field capacity with respect to water."

References:

OECD (2007). SIDS Ammonium sulphate, CAS: 7783 -20 -2.

Environment Canada (2001). Priority substances list assessment report. Ammonia in the environment. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/contaminants/psl2-lsp2/ammonia/ammonia_2-eng.php