In situ application of a cellulose bag and an ion exchanger for differentiation of labile and inert metal species in aquatic systems

This work involved the development and application of a new analytical procedure for in-situ characterization of the lability of metal species in aquatic systems by using a system equipped with a diffusion membrane and cellulose organomodified with p-aminobenzoic acid groups (DM-Cell-PAB). To this end, the DM-Cell-PAB system was prepared by adding cellulose organomodified with p-aminobenzoic acid groups (Cell-PAB) to pre-purified cellulose bags. After the DM-Cell-PAB system was sealed, it was examined in the laboratory. The in-situ application involved immersing the DM-Cell-PAB system in two different rivers, enabling us to study the relative lability of metal species (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Ni) as a function of time and quantity of exchanger. The procedure is simple and opens up a new perspective for understanding environmental phenomena relating to the complexation, transport, stability, and lability of metal species in aquatic systems rich in organic matter.     

Development of a new analytical approach based on cellulose membrane and chelator for differentiation of labile and inert metal species in aquatic systems

A new procedure was developed in this study, based on a system equipped with a cellulose membrane and a tetraethylenepentamine hexaacetate chelator (MD-TEPHA) for in situ characterization of the lability of metal species in aquatic systems. To this end, the DM-TEPHA system was prepared by adding TEPHA chelator to cellulose bags pre-purified with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ of HCl and NaOH solutions. After the MD-TEPHA system was sealed, it was examined in the laboratory to evaluate the influence of complexation time (0-24 h), pH (3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0), metal ions (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn and Ni) and concentration of organic matter (15, 30 and 60 mg L⁻¹) on the relative lability of metal species by TEPHA chelator. The results showed that Fe and Cu metals were complexed more slowly by TEPHA chelator in the MD-TEPHA system than were Cd, Ni and Mn in all pH used. It was also found that the pH strongly influences the process of metal complexation by the MD-TEPHA system. At all the pH levels, Cd, Mn and Ni showed greater complexation with TEPHA chelator (recovery of about 95-75%) than did Cu and Fe metals. Time also affects the lability of metal species complexed by aquatic humic substances (AHS); while Cd, Ni and Mn showed a faster kinetics, reaching equilibrium after about 100 min, and Cu and Fe approached equilibrium after 400 min. Increasing the AHS concentration decreases the lability of metal species by shifting the equilibrium to AHS-metal complexes. Our results indicate that the system under study offers an interesting alternative that can be applied to in situ experiments for differentiation of labile and inert metal species in aquatic systems.     

Approach combining on-line metal exchange and tangential-flow ultrafiltration for in-situ characterization of metal species in humic hydrocolloids

This paper deals with the development and optimization of an analytical procedure using ultrafiltration and a flow-injection system, and its application in in-situ experiments to characterize the lability and availability of metal species in humic-rich hydrocolloids. The on-line system consists of a tangential flow ultrafiltration device equipped with a 3-kDa filtration membrane. The concentration of free ions in the filtrate was determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry, assuming that metals not complexed by aquatic humic substances (AHS) were separated from the complexed species (M–AHS) retained by the membrane. For optimization, exchange experiments using Cu(II) solutions and AHS solutions doped with the metal ions Ni(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), and Zn(II) were carried out to characterize the stability of the metal–AHS complexes. The new procedure was then applied in-situ at a tributary of the Ribeira do Iguape river (Iguape, São Paulo State, Brazil) and evaluated using the ions Fe(III) and Mn(II), which are considered to be essential constituents of aquatic systems. From the exchange between metal–natural organic matter (M–NOM) and the Cu(II) ions it was concluded that Cu(II) concentrations >485 μg L^?1 were necessary to obtain maximum exchange of the complexes Mn–NOM and Fe–NOM, corresponding to 100% Mn and 8% Fe. Moreover, the new analytical procedure is simple and opens up new perspectives for understanding the complexation, transport, stability, and lability of metal species in humic-rich aquatic environments.     

In situ differentiation of labile/inert metal species in Brazilian tropical rivers by means of a time-controlled batch-procedure based on TEPHA resin

The present study deals with a new analytical procedure based on a cellulose diffusion membrane and immobilised tetraethylene-pentamine-hexaacetate chelator (DM-TEPHA) for an in situ differentiation of labile and inert metal species in aquatic systems. The DM-TEPHA system was prepared by placing TEPHA chelator in pre-purified cellulose bags and in situ applied immersing the system in two Brazilian rivers to study the relative lability of metal species (Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn and Ni) as a function of the time and the quantity of exchanger, respectively. The procedure is simple and enables a new perspective for understanding the complexation, transport, stability and lability of metal species in aquatic systems rich in organic matter.     

Lability of heavy metal species in aquatic humic substances characterized by ion exchange with cellulose phosphate

Labile metal species in aquatic humic substances (HSs) were characterized by ion exchange on cellulose phosphate (CellPhos) by applying an optimized batch procedure. The HSs investigated were pre-extracted from humic-rich waters by ultrafiltration and a resin XAD 8 procedure. The HS-metal species studied were formed by complexation with Cd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Mn(II) and Pb(II) as a function of time and the ratio ions to HSs. The kinetics and reaction order of this exchange process were studied. At the beginning (<3 min), the labile metal fractions are separated relatively quickly. After 3 min, the separation of the metal ions proceeds with uniform half-lives of about 12-14 min, revealing rather slow first-order kinetics. The metal exchange between HSs and CellPhos exhibited the following order of metal lability with the studied HSs: Cu > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cd. The required metal determinations were carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Labile complexes of trace metals in aquatic humic substances: Investigations by means of an ion exchange-based flow procedure

The lability/inertness of heavy metals bound in aquatic humic substances (HS) has been characterized by means of ligand exchange with cellulose-immobilized triethylenetetramine-pentaacetic acid (TETPA) applying a flow system. On the basis of high metal distribution coefficients, K_d of 10³ to 10⁴ (ml/g) on cellulose TETPA even in slightly acidic HS solutions, labile and inert metal fractions in HS are characterized by their different kinetics and degree of phase exchange in small TETPA columns. For traces of metals bound to dissolved HS, the lability order Cd Mn(II)>Zn>Pb>Co>Ni>Cu is revealed. Systematic variation of environmentally relevant parameters shows the strong influence of the pH value and the ratio of metal loading/complexing capacity on the metal lability in HS. Surprisingly, in the case of freshly formed HS/Ni and HS/Cu complexes, slow transformation processes occur which lower their initial lability by one order of magnitude and supposedly increase their thermodynamic stability.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. Huber, Department of Chemistry, University of Dortmund, on the occasion of his 65th birthdayOn leave from Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, UNESP, Campus de Araraquara, CEP 14800-900, C. P. 355-Araraquara, SP, Brasil     

Trace metal accumulation in tissues of sole (Solea senegalensis) and the relationships with the abiotic environment

The distribution patterns and the organ-specific accumulation trends of 10 trace metals (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, cobalt, lead, cadmium and silver) and 4 major elements (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) in 10 different tissues (heart, muscle, kidney, stomach, intestine, liver, gill, gonads, white skin and dark skin) of a benthic fish species (Solea senegalensis) from a densely populated coastal area affected by anthropogenic activities, the Bay of Cadiz (SW Spain), have been investigated. High variability of metal concentrations among tissues were found for Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb and Ag. Factor analysis was applied to study this variability. Five principal components were found explaining the 92.95% of the total variance and similarities in behavioural patterns of bioaccumulation were described. They associated Mg, Cr, Ni and Mn to intestine and stomach tissues (PC1), Ag, Cu and Cd to liver (PC2), Zn, K and Co to gonads (PC3), Na, Fe and Pb to gill, heart and kidney tissues (PC4) and Ca, Pb and Mn to gill and dark skin (PC5). The metallic concentration in the sediment and water was also studied. The pollution in this area was found moderate with outstanding values of Zn, Cu and Pb (average values of 139, 50.4 and 75.6?mg?kg^?1, respectively) in sediment and dissolved Cu (average value of 2.5?µg?L^?1). Metal bioconcentration trends followed the order Zn?>?Cu?>?Cd?>?Pb for dissolved metals in seawater, Cu?>?Zn?>?Cd?>?Pb?≈?Mn?>?Fe?≈?Ni?≈?Co for metals associated to particulate matter and Zn?≈?Cu?>?Cd?>?Mn?>?Co?≈?Fe?>?Ni?≈?Pb?>?Cr for metals in the sediment. Higher values were found for copper in liver, zinc in gonads and lead in gill, showing the relationship between biotic and abiotic environment. In addition, Cd bioconcentration factors were found high in liver and gill showing the sensitivity of sole to this metal even at low concentrations.     

Sorption of trace metals on human hair and application for cadmium and lead pre-concentration with flame atomic absorption determination

Human hair shavings were characterized as a sorbent for trace metals. At pH 7.0 metal sorption follows the order Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Cr(VI)>Fe(III)>Cu(II)>Ni(II)>Mn(VI). Metal recovery is quantitative for Pb and Cd after 30 min of equilibration. Recovery of other metals is less quantitative and varies with pH. For example, while Cu is best recovered at pH 5, Ni and Mn are sorbed optimally in the basic pH region. Sorbed metals can be washed off the sorbent with 0.5 mol L(-1) strong mineral acids or more completely with 0.1 mol L(-1) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Typical sorption isotherms were obtained for Cd and Pb with sorption capacities of 39 and 26 micromol g(-1), respectively.Hair sorbent was used for 40-fold pre-concentration of Cd and Pb from treated wastewater samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) determination. Comparison of the data obtained for lead and cadmium by the proposed pre-concentration method with that by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) showed 79 to 86% recovery and comparable analytical precision. Common cations and anions at the levels normally present in natural water do not interfere in the proposed pre-concentration-FAAS method.     

Labile/inert metal species in aquatic humic substances: an ion-exchange study

Summary An ion-exchange procedure has been developed for the analytical fractionation of metals (e.g. Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) forming labile/inert complexes with aquatic humic substances (HS) isolated (XAD 2, XAD 8, ultrafiltration) from bog, forest, ground and lake water. Using 1-(2-hydroxyphenylazo)-2-naphthol groups immobilized on cellulose (Cellulose HYPHAN) as chelating collector (batch and column procedure, resp.) for reactive metal fractions in dissolved HS, the kinetics and the degree of separation (referred to the total metal content) serve for the operational characterization of the metal lability. According to the separation kinetics (96 h), mostly the reactivity order Mn>Zn>Co>Pb>Ni>CuAl>Fe is observed for the above metals in HS, resulting in recoveries of >98% for Mn and Zn, but strongly varying for the other metals (e.g., 44–95% Cu, 18–84% Fe). By means of cellulose HYPHAN four metal fractions (e.g. Cu) can be distinguished kinetically: (a) about 50% of Cu freshly complexed with HS are directly exchanged (2nd order kinetics, k=0.275 1 · mol^–1 · s^–1) followed by (b) a less labile fraction (20–30%) of 1st to 2nd order exchange; (c) a hardly reactive fraction (5–10%) revealing uniform half times t_1/2 of 25 h closes the Cu exchange from HS. Moreover the Cu fraction (d), being exchange-inert in HS, amounts to 5–10% and increases by slow transformation processes of the formed HS/Cu species.     

Amberlite XAD-7 impregnated with Xylenol Orange: a chelating collector for preconcentration of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) ions prior to their determination by flame AAS

A new chelating resin, Xylenol Orange coated Amberlite XAD-7, was prepared and used for preconcentration of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Zn(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Zn(II) are 4.5-5.0, 4.5, 4.0-5.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 5.0-7.0, respectively, and their desorptions by 2 mol L(-1) HCl are instantaneous. The sorption capacity of the resin has been found to be 2.0, 2.6, 1.6, 1.6, 2.6 and 1.8 mg g(-1) of resin for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn, respectively. The tolerance limits of electrolytes, NaCl, NaF, NaI, NaNO3, Na2SO4 and of cations, Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the sorption of the six metal ions are reported. The preconcentration factor was between 50 and 200. The t1/2 values for sorption are found to be 5.3, 2.9, 3.2, 3.3, 2.5 and 2.6 min for the six metals, respectively. The recoveries are between 96.0 and 100.0% for the different metals at preconcentration limits between 10 to 40 ng mL(-1). The preconcentration method has been applied to determine the six metal ions in river water samples after destroying the organic matter (if present in very large amount) with concentrated nitric acid (RSD < or = 8%, except for Cd for which it is upto 12.6%) and cobalt content of vitamin tablets with RSD of approximately 3.0%.     

Solid phase extraction and diffusive gradients in thin films techniques for determination of total and labile concentrations of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in Black Sea water

Total dissolved and labile concentrations of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) were determined at six locations of the Bourgas Gulf of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Solid phase extraction procedure based on monodisperse, submicrometer silica spheres modified with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane followed by the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) was developed and applied to quantify the total dissolved metal concentrations in sea water. Quantitative sorption of Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb was achieved in the pH range 7.5–8, for 30?min, adsorbed elements were easily eluted with 2?mL 2?mol?L^?1 HNO₃. Since the optimal pH for quantitative sorption coincides with typical pH of Black Sea water (7.9–8.2), on-site pre-concentration of the analytes without any additional treatment was possible. Detection limits achieved for total dissolved metal quantification were: Cd 0.002?µg?L^?1, Cu 0.005?µg?L^?1, Ni 0.03?µg?L^?1, Pb 0.02?µg?L^?1 and relative standard deviations varied from 5–13% for all studied elements (for typical Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in Black Sea water). Open pore diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique was employed for in-situ sampling and pre-concentration of the sea water and in combination with ETAAS was used to determine the proportion of dynamic (mobile and kinetically labile) species of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in the sea water. Obtained results showed strong complexation for Cu and Pb with sea water dissolved organic matter. The ratios between DGT-labile and total dissolved concentrations found for Cu(II) and Pb(II) were in the range 0.2–0.4. For Cd and Ni, these ratios varied from 0.6 to 0.8, suggesting higher degree of free and kinetically labile species of these metals in sea water.     

Contamination assessment of heavy metal in surface sediments of the Wuding River, northern China

The heavy metal contents and the contamination levels of the surface sediments of the Wuding River, northern China, were investigated. Heavy metal concentration ranged in μg g⁻¹: 50.15–71.91 for Cr, 408.1–442.9 for Mn, 20.11–43.59 for Ni, 17.51–20.1 for Cu, 68.32–89.57 for Zn, 0.2–0.38 for Cd and 15.08–16.14 for Pb in the Wuding River sediments. The enrichment factor (EF) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) demonstrated that the sediments of the Wuding River had been polluted by Cd, Cr and Ni, which mainly originated from anthropogenic sources, whereas the sediments had not been polluted by Zn, Pb, Cu and Mn, which were derived from the crust. In addition, the assessment results of EF and Igeo suggested that the sediments of the Wuding River was “moderately” polluted by Cd and “unpolluted to moderately” polluted by Cr and Ni. The elevated urban sewage discharges and agriculture fertilizers usage in river basin are the anthropogenic sources of these heavy metals in river.     

Determination of selected elements by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in liquid drug samples after the preconcentration with thioacetamide

Preconcentration performance characteristics of precipitation of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Cd and with subsequent filtration through cellulose nitrate membrane were investigated for the X-ray spectrometry identification and determination of trace metal ions in drug samples. The method was optimised for several parameters, including pH and amount of thioacetamide. The investigated analyte ions were collected on cellulose nitrate membrane filter (Pragopor 4) as sulphides after the reaction with thioacetamide. Optimal reaction conditions were found out (pH 8.5 for Fe, Zn, Hg, and Cd and pH 11.5 for Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb; 1.2 mL of added thioacetamide). Thereafter, the content of these elements was determined in the samples of drugs—NaCl, glucose and dextrane. The rapidity of this method, its polycomponent character and low detection limits (for filters: Mn—1.09 μg, Fe—1.08 μg, Co—0.82 μg, Cu—0.42 μg, Zn—0.61 μg, Pb—0.45 μg, Hg—0.42 μg, and Cd—0.99 μg) have proved this method to be very promising in rapid screening used in quality control of drugs.     

Highly crosslinked ionic β-cyclodextrin polymers and their interaction with heavy metals

A new aqueous insoluble ionic β-cyclodextrin polymer (PYR) has been synthesized and a potentiometric study of the binary Cu(II)-PYR system is performed to calculate the complexation constants (as logβ in heterogeneous medium). The mathematical processing of the pH-metric data gave the formation constants of Cu(II) complexes and the related species distributions. The model is compatible with the presence of five complex species in the range of pH 2.5–7. Stoichiometry indicates the probable involvement of the alcoholate functionalities of the ligand in the complexation. The capacity of the polymer with respect to metal ions retention is evaluated for both Cu(II) and Cd(II) (chosen as target probes). The possibility to recover the sorbed Cd(II) is also tested by using acidic pH solutions. A complete recovery is obtained and the stability of the polymer is verified over ten steps of retention and desorption. To understand the complexation mechanism involved, two other cyclodextrin-based polymers are synthesized which are characterized by the presence of naphthalic dicarboxylic and carbonate groups as spacers. Their interactions with Cu(II) or Cd(II) are studied. Since the β-cyclodextrin polycarbonate polymer does not have acidic groups on the spacer, it is interesting to compare metal ions retention between this material, which does not present a real cation exchange site, and PYR.     

Formation of metal-nicotianamine complexes as affected by pH, ligand exchange with citrate and metal exchange. A study by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Nicotianamine (NA) is considered as a key element in plant metal homeostasis. This non-proteinogenic amino acid has an optimal structure for chelation of metal ions, with six functional groups that allow octahedral coordination. The ability to chelate metals by NA is largely dependent on the pK of the resulting complex and the pH of the solution, with most metals being chelated at neutral or basic pH values. In silico calculations using pKa and pK values have predicted the occurrence of metal-NA complexes in plant fluids, but the use of soft ionization techniques (e.g. electrospray), together with high-resolution mass spectrometers (e.g. time-of-flight mass detector), can offer direct and metal-specific information on the speciation of NA in solution. We have used direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (time-of-flight) ESI-MS(TOF) to study the complexation of Mn, Fe(II), Fe(III), Ni, Cu by NA. The pH dependence of the metal-NA complexes in ESI-MS was compared to that predicted in silico. Possible exchange reactions that may occur between Fe-NA and other metal micronutrients as Zn and Cu, as well as between Fe-NA and citrate, another possible Fe ligand candidate in plants, were studied at pH 5.5 and 7.5, values typical of the plant xylem and phloem saps. Metal-NA complexes were generally observed in the ESI-MS experiments at a pH value approximately 1-2 units lower than that predicted in silico, and this difference could be only partially explained by the estimated error, approximately 0.3 pH units, associated with measuring pH in organic solvent-containing solutions. Iron-NA complexes are less likely to participate in ligand- and metal-exchange reactions at pH 7.5 than at pH 5.5. Results support that NA may be the ligand chelating Fe at pH values usually found in phloem sap, whereas in the xylem sap NA is not likely to be involved in Fe transport, conversely to what occurs with other metals such as Cu and Ni. Some considerations that need to be addressed when studying metal complexes in plant compartments by ESI-MS are also discussed.     

Phenoxo-bridged symmetrical homobinuclear complexes derived from an “end-off” compartmental ligand, 2,6- bis [5′-chloro-3′-phenyl- 1H -indole-2′-carboxamidyliminomethyl]-4-methylphenol

A compartment ligand 2,6-bis[5′-chloro-3′-phenyl-1H-indole-2′-carboxamidyliminomethyl]-4-methylphenol was prepared and homobinuclear phenol-bridged Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) complexes have been prepared by the template method using the precursors 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol, 5-chloro-3-phenylindole-2-carbohydrazide and metal chlorides in 1 : 2 : 2 ratio, respectively. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, magnetic susceptibility data, IR, NMR, FAB mass and ESR spectra, TGA, and powder XRD data. Cu(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes exhibit square pyramidal geometry whereas Ni(II), Mn(II), and Fe(III) complexes are octahedral. Low magnetic moment values for Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) complexes show antiferromagnetic spin-exchange interaction between two metal centers in binuclear complexes. The ligand and its complexes were tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus, and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.     

Synthesis and analytical properties of a chelating resin functionalised with bis-(N,N'-salicylidene)1,3-propanediamine ligands

A polystyrenedivinylbenzene-based macroreticular resin was functionalised with bis-(N,N'-salicylidene)1,3-propanediamine ligands and its analytical properties have been investigated. The pH dependence of metal resin chelation has been determined for Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III). Trace amounts of these metal ions were quantitatively retained on the resin at neutral pH and easily recovered by elution with 1 N hydrochloric acid. The resin exhibits good chemical stability and fast equilibration with the metal ion making it useful for rapid concentration of trace amounts of metal ions on the resin columns.     

4-{[(2-Hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}-1,2-benzenediol (HIMB) anchored Amberlite XAD-16: Preparation and applications as metal extractants

Amberlite XAD-16 was loaded with 4-{[(2-hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}-1,2-benzenediol (HIMB) via azo linker and the resulting resin AXAD-16-HIMB explored for enrichment of Zn(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Fe(III) and Co(II) in the pH range 5.0-8.0. The sorption capacity was found between 56 and 415 μmol g⁻¹ and the preconcentration factors from 150 to 300. Tolerance limits for foreign species are reported. The kinetics of sorption is not slow, as t_1/2 is ≤15 min. The chelating resin can be reused for seventy cycles of sorption-desorption without any significant change (<2.0%) in the sorption capacity. The limit of detection values (blank + 3 s) are 1.72, 1.30, 2.56, 2.10, 0.44, 2.93, 2.45 and 3.23 μg l⁻¹ for Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe and Co, respectively. The enrichment on AXAD-16-HIMB coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) monitoring is used to determine the metal ion ions in river and synthetic water samples, Co in vitamin tablets and Zn in powdered milk samples.     

Dynamics of Heavy Metals in Soils of a Reed Bed System

Abstract

Heavy metal balances of a reed bed system (soil pH > 7, carbonate content about 30%) continuously flooded with sewage during 5 years indicate that only Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu were partly stored in the soil. Strong reductive conditions, high sewage percolation and metal complexation with soluble organic compounds caused a considerable leaching of Fe, Mn, Ni and Cr from the soil and formation of amorphous iron oxides. The results indicate that continously flooded reed bed systems with high percolation rates are not suitable for the elimination of heavy metals. Conversely, it should be possible to purify metal contaminated soils through percolation of sewage with low metal content.