Soil solutions amino acid metal complexes

Carbohydrates and proteins may also play an important role in weathering of soils. As much as 30% of the DOC in soil solutions can occur as saccharides, although only a small portion has been accounted for as polysaccharides. Polysaccharides extracted from soil usually contain Al, Fe, and Si an indication of their ability to complex polyvalent ions. Amino acids, peptides, and proteins are also capable of forming complexes with metal ions. These substances have a strong affinity for binding to silicate minerals and are able to perturb the hydrolytic reactions of Al. 

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