Cathy,

The extractor is nifty! My question is: what is the solution used to extract the elements from the soil? Is it mostly water? Water is a universal solvent but some interesting compounds might not want to "let go" of the soil. Is there something in the water, maybe a surfactant like detergent, so that things that do not dissolve easily in water are also extracted?

I think that home-built, purpose-made equipment is very cool. Thanks for showing it to us,

Gerty

Catherine Campbell

Hi Gerty,
The solution used in the extraction was a weak sulfuric acid solution (H2SO4).  Dr. Bret-Harte is in Fairbanks right now, so I can't offer any more detail than that as to why sulfuric acid, and how it extracts the elements.  I'll ask her to follow up on this question when she returns.
 
Thanks for aking,
Cathy