Identification of inorganic pyrophosphate in alkaline extracts of soil

Abstract
An acid‐labile phosphate has been detected in alkaline extracts of four acid soils, and has been isolated and purified by ion‐exchange and paper chromatography. Its chromatographic properties, its rate of hydrolysis in hydrochloric acid‐and the infra‐red spectrum of its barium salt show that it is inorganic pyrophosphate.In three of the soils the amount was in the range 2.1–2.6 ppm P, compared with only 0.5 in the fourth but the investigation was essentially qualitative and losses may have occurred during isolation. the phosphate may occur in the soil in inorganic form or alternatively as an ester which is mineralised during extraction.