The cation exchange capacity determination involves measuring the total quantity of

negative charges per unit weight of the material. The cation exchange capacity is usually
measured by leaching a soil or colloid with a 1 N salt solution buffered at a neutral or
slight alkaline pH value and then wash out the excess salts with an electrolyte free
solvent.
Apparatus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

100 ml centrifuge tubes

Smaller centrifuge tubes
International No. 2 centrifuge lieu
Special small carbon funnels
Fruited glass or asbestos crucibles
250 ml beaker
500 ml conical flask
25 ml pipette
burette
Reagents

1. 1 N NaOAc:- Adjusted to pH 5.82 gm of salt and about 28 ml glacial HOAc per litter
2. 30% H2O2:- If the organic matter is to be removed
3. Neutral 1 N NaOAc: - 82 gm per litter with pH adjusted at 7.0 with HoAc to neutralize
the NaOH normally formed by the hydrolysis of this salt.
4. 1 N CaCl2:- Approximately 109 gm of CaCl2.6H2O or 73 gm of CaCl2.2H2O per litter of
CO2 free distilled water with pH adjusted to 7.0 with Ca(OH)2