I want to set the Ph of substrate consisting of organic waste and leaf litter.The procedure which I followed was:
1.I took 5 g of sample and added 50 ml of D.W. in it then I started adding different ranges of 0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5, 0.6ml of 5 N HCL. I kept checking Ph for each range but at first i dropped down to 3 using 0.1 ml of 5N HCL,while later after few hours it increased to 6.50.The same problem is happening with all ranges and concentration.I want to then change Ph of 50 g substrate using the reference of this 5 gram.Can anyone suggest me what can be done in this case? And how should I proceed? It would be better if I get the reference paper...
Dear N.T.,
This is a difficult problem; I have not done quite the same thing (hopefully someone who has will reply), but have some similar experience. The problem is that the material you are working with is well buffered near neutral pH. HCl will bring the pH down quickly, but then slowly reacts with the material and is neutralized. It would be better if you are able to buffer the material at the pH you desire, perhaps with acetic acid/acetate or phosphate, but these may well interfere with your experiment. Also, if you want various pHs within the range, this will take different proportions of the buffer, and this may further interfere (introducing another variable).
I wish you good luck!
- Peter
The solid particles should be washed with dH2O, autoclaved, dried....and the inert particles should be further impregnated with the inoculated liquid medium with different, previously adjusted, pH.
Good luck!
Take readings to change ph every hour or half an hour and record the change
When the pH is increased, add Hcl solution in measured quantities
It is possible that your decomposition process is rapid and therefore a rapid ph change occurs
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