Study of Aqueous Chemical Forms of Silicon in Organic-rich Waters

The study of silicon species in organic-rich waters is a very significant problem. This type of waters is widely spread all over the world. It is characterized by a high content of humic substances, high color of water and low pH. In this regard, a certain determination of silicon concentration in this type of waters is impossible without a preliminary investigation of silicon species. The aim of this research is therefore an investigation of the ratio of silicon dissolved forms in organic-rich waters depending on the silicon concentration and the acidity of the water. The study of pH influence on silicic acids and a silicon–humic matter interaction was carried out using model solutions and natural bog waters (Tomsk region). It has been found that the degree of polymerization of silicic acids essentially depends on the acidity of a solution. Scanning of spectrophotometric measurements has shown that silicon does not form stable complexes with fulvic and humic acids in weak-acid media (рН 3-4). Studying the bog waters of Tomsk Region has shown that they (рН=3.66-3.80) contain only monomeric-dimeric and polymeric forms of silicic acids.