Trace Metal Speciation and Research in Marine Geochemistry

Abstract

In order to precise the origin and behaviour of trace metals associated with coastal marine sediments, marine geochemists frequently utilize various methods of sequential extraction. The main objective is to test the potential mobility / stability of particulate metals in the natural environments. Several examples are presented in the article, namely: i/ Exchangeable Pb from podzolic soils of the drainage basin of a lagoon which sediments and phreatic waters are for a large part inherited from the surrounding soils; ii/ Evolution of particulate metals in an estuary; iii/ Mobility of metals at the sea bottom interface; iv/ Role of amorphous components of estuarine sediments and suspended matter; v/ Effects of dredging activities on solubility of metals in an estuary; vi/ Behaviour of heavy metals in lagoons.

Main results obtained from the extraction procedures are described, as well as particular difficulties encountered when applying some classical methods.     

Kinetic Analysis Applied to Iron in a Natural Water Model Containing Ions,Organic Complexes,Colloids, and Particles

Abstract

Kinetic analysis using complex formation reactions is applied to “mixtures” containing (variously), Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, iron complexed to a fulvic acid, hydrous oxide colloids, and non-settleable particulate iron. Such mixtures can be directly resolved if the kinetics of complex formation reactions are pseudo first order and differences among rate constants are large enough. At pH = 4, it is found that fulvic acid causes substantial reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ and that it causes complete dissolution and depolymerization of colloidal and particulate iron at 1:1 ratio. Addition of one equivalent of phosphate causes precipitation of ferric phosphate even in the presence of fulvic acid. This system is very useful for modeling natural water because the kinetic technique allows convenient analysis of components of varying particle size. The present results are strongly indicative of the role of fulvic acid in mediating metal ion chemistry in natural water.     

Adsorption of trace elements or radionuclides on hydrous iron oxides

Factors that influence the adsorption of trace elements or radionuclides on hydrous iron oxides were investigated. The adsorption of monovalent cations (Cs⁺, Rb⁺) on hydrous iron oxides is not strongly pH-dependent and it can be regarded as nonspecific. On the other hand, the adsorption of Ag⁺, divalent cations (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Sr²⁺) or trivalent cations (Cr³⁺, La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Er³⁺, Yb³⁺) is strongly pH-dependent. The regularities of the adsorption of these cations on hydrous iron oxides are discussed. Also, the differences in the adsorption behaviour of some divalent and trivalent cations are explained. Freshly precipitated iron(III) hydroxide can be used for the decontamination of radionuclides from low-level waste solutions. However, the efficacy of decontamination depends on the oxidation state and the chemical properties of radionuclides.     

Determination of trace elements by INAA in urban air particulate matter and transplanted lichens

Summary Lichens as biomonitors and neutron activation analysis as analytical technique have been employed to evaluate the trace element atmospheric pollution in the metropolitan area of the city of Pavia (Northern Italy). Transplanted lichens (Parmelia sulcata and Usnea gr. hirta) and air particulate matter have been monthly collected and analyzed during the winter 2001-2002. INAA and ET-AAS have been used for the determination of 28 elements in air particulate matter and 25 elements in lichens. Trace metals concentrations as well as the corresponding enrichment factors were evaluated and compared.     

The radiation dose and distribution coefficient of 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in aquatic environs of major rivers of coastal Karnataka

The activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was measured in different matrices of aquatic ecosystem of the major rivers of Coastal Karnataka viz, Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi. The environmental samples such as surface water, suspended particulate matter and sediment have been subjected to analyses. The activity of these two radionuclides were determined by radiochemical separation of ²¹⁰Po and counting the activity using a ZnS(Ag) alpha counter. The activity ratio of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb and correlation between the activity of these radionuclides were studied. From the measured concentration of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb, the internal Committed Effective Dose to the population for the study area was calculated. The distribution coefficient K_d between water, suspended particulate matter and sediments have been calculated to understand the distribution and accumulation of these radionuclides in different matrices of the aquatic environment.

     

Particle Size Determination of Trace Elements in Urban Air

Abstract

Airborne urban particulate matter was collected and fractionated according to size by cascade impactors. The elements zinc, cadmium, copper and lead on each size fraction were analyzed by anodic stripping voltammetry. The elements aluminum, iron, manganese, calcium and magnesium were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The data showed three different classes of particle size distribution for these nine elements. Lead and cadmium belonged to the first class with more than 70 % of the total collected element associated with particles having aerodynamic diameters below 0.5 micron. The calculated average mass median equivalent diameter (MMD) of cadmium and lead was approx. 0.1 micron. In the second class about 60% of the elements Zn, Cu, Mg and Fe was associated with particles smaller than 0.5 micron. The average MMD's for these elements were between 0.3 and 0.4 micron. For the elements Al, Ca and Mn about 50% of the metal was associated with particles smaller than 0.5 micron and the MMD's were between 0.5 and 0.6 micron. Examination of elemental ratios (using Al as a reference element) showed that Pb and Cd were about 1000 times more concentrated in atmospheric particulate matter than in average crustal material and that in general the Pb/Al and Cd/Al ratios are inversely proportional to particle size. The Zn/Al and Cu/Al ratios of atmospheric partides were age or less independent of particle size and approx. 20 times higher than these same ratios in average crustal material. The ratios Fe/Al, Mn/AI, Ca/M and Mg/AI in all sizes of particulate matter were essentially identical to the same ratios in average crustal material.     

Multi-element neutron activation analysis measurements towards the geochemistry of particulate matter exchange between continent—Atmosphere—Ocean

Sampling of marine aerosol and ocean water particulate matter yields very small quantities of material. INAA is used for routine analysis since it provides measurements of as many as 25 elements and permits multiple use of the small samples. Results are given for the mean elemental composition of Atlantic marine aerosols and oceanic suspended matter. Such analyses are essential for the interpretation of global geochemical cycles.     

A method to investigate the interaction of rare earth elements in aqueous solution with metal oxides

A method is described which can be used to investigate the interaction of dissolved metals with particulate material. Low level concentrations (10^–9M) of rare earth radiotracers were used to investigate their sorption onto synthetic mineral oxide surfaces. The preparation of rare earth radiotracers by neutron activation is discussed in detail. A kinetic approach was employed to investigate the interaction of dissolved metals and suspended mineral oxides. Amorphous iron oxyhyroxide, a phase commonly found in nature, was used in sorption experiments carried out in seawater at pH 7.8 and 2°C. Results of this study indicate a high affinity of the rare earth elements (REE) for the iron oxide surface (evidenced by fast uptake and high partition coefficients) and reveal a fraction between light and heavy REE.     

Vertical Distribution of Particulate Mercury as Measured on a Meteorological Observation Tower (213m)

Abstract

The concentration of mercury in airborne particles was determined in samples collected at heights of 1m and at 175m up the Meteorological Observation Tower (213m) at the Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba between August 1985 and April 1986. The concentrations of particulate mercury at the two heights were compared with gaseous mercury levels at a height of 10m and with other chemical components in the particles. The concentrations of particulate mercury at both heights showed no positive correlation with those of gaseous mercury, total suspended particles, sulfate, chloride, sodium or calcium. However, there was some positive correlation between particulate mercury and nitrate concentrations especially at 175m; the concentrations of these components were found to be high when the wind direction was southwesterly. These results suggest that these components were transported from the Tokyo Metropolitan area.     

Quantitative Determination of Iron and Aluminium in Some Alloys and Silicate Rocks After a Cation Exchange Separation on Zirconium(IV) Phospho and Silico Arsenates

Abstract

A rapid and quantitative method has been developed for the analysis of some iron and aluminium based alloys and silicate rocks using zirconium(IV) based arsenophosphate and arsenosilicate cation exchangers. The method is simple, reproducible and precise with a standard deviation <3%, for the direct determination of iron and aluminium in rocks and alloys. The low standard deviation values suggest that the method should be useful for the standardization purposes.     

Comparative study of bulk and partial digestion methods for airborne PM10-bound elements in a high mineral dust urban site in Constantine,Algeria

When high mineral loads in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) are present, particular attention should be paid to the selection of appropriate acidic digestion protocols for wet chemical analysis. We report on a comparative study of elemental recovery yields from five different pre-analytical acid digestion procedures for mineral-rich urban background PM₁₀ samples collected in the city of Constantine (Northeastern Algeria). Five reference materials (NIST 1633b, UPM 1648, NAT-7, SO-2 and SO-4) were also digested according to the same protocols. The selected acidic digestion/extraction procedures are widely used for PM chemical analysis and comprise P1 (HNO₃/HF/HCl), P2 (HCl/HNO₃), P3 (HCl/H₂O₂/HNO₃), P4 (HNO₃/HF/HClO₄) and P5 (HNO₃/H₂O₂); the latter assisted with microwave digestion. Elemental recovery yields were compared for major and trace elements typically determined in PM for source apportionment analysis and the results evidenced large differences. For most elements, the bulk extraction procedures (requiring the use of HF) allowed a full elemental recovery, particularly for elements that are associated with aluminium silicate species and oxides that are resistant to mild acid attack. In contrast, in the extraction protocols without HF low recovery yields were obtained for elements such as Al, Ti, Zr, Sc and other aluminium silicate-related elements in PM₁₀ samples with high mineral dust load. We highlight that the European standard digestion method EN-14902:2005 should be applied specifically for the metals for which this method was developed, but caution should be taken when the analysis of other elements in PM is required, especially in urban areas where road and vehicle wear dust is likely to be a major component of ambient PM. When using wet chemistry analysis for PM source apportionment studies, we strongly recommend HF bulk dissolution of samples to ensure the reliability of the geochemical information when coupled with an appropriate analytical tool.     

Reversed Phase Extraction Chromatographic Separation Of Scandium With Amberlite LA-1 From Malonate Solutions

Abstract

Scandium was extracted at pH 5.0 from 0.01 M malonic acid on silica gel column impregnated with Amberlite LA-1. Nickel, zinc, cadmium, mercury, lead, tin, aluminium, and lanthanum in binary mixtures because they could not form malonato complexes. It was separated by the process of selective elution from elements such as zirconium, thorium, uranium, iron(III), gallium, indium, cerium(III), litanium by exploiting difference in stability of malonato complexes. Scandium was separated from multicomponent mixture containing yttrium, titanium, zironium, thorium, uranium and aluminium by a process of selective sorbtion and selective elution.     

Di-2-pyridyl Ketone 4-Phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone as an Analytical Reagent for Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron

Abstract

The analytical possibilities of di-2-pyridyl ketone 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone as reagent for the spectmphotometric determination of iron have been examined, and compared with other reagents with the some reactive grouping. Diverse procedures for the estimation of iron have been established, and have been applied to the determination of iron in cements and aluminium.     

Complexometric determination of aluminium in iron ore,sinter, concentrates and agglomerates

A method for the complexometric determination of aluminium in iron ore, sinter, concentrates and agglomerates encountered in international trade is described. The sample is fused in a zirconium crucible with a mixed flux of sodium carbonate and sodium peroxide. The fused mass is completely soluble in hydrochloric acid. The R₂O₃ oxides are then precipitated with ammonia and redissolved in hydrochloric acid. Elements such as iron, titanium and zirconium are separated from aluminium by solvent extraction with cupferron and chloroform. After removal of traces of organic matter from the aqueous phase, the solution is treated with an excess of EDTA, which is then back-titrated with zinc solution (Xylenol Orange as indicator). Addition of ammonium fluoride then releases EDTA equivalent to the aluminium and this is titrated with zinc solution. The method is rapid. The precision and accuracy are excellent, and the results comparable with those obtained by the referee method.     

Cation Exchange Separation of Thallium (I) From Other Elements In Mixed Solvents

Abstract

The cation exchange chromatographic behaviour of thallium (I) on Dowex 50W-X8 was carried out in mixed solvents. Nitric, sulphuric, perchloric acid and their salts, as well as in mixtures of 2 M nitric acid with methanol, ethanol, acetone, dioxane and titrahydrofuran, were studied as the eluants. In comparison with other elements, since thallium was weakly sorbed, it was first eluted, while strongly bound elements like manganese, magnesium, cobalt, indium, gallium, zinc, iron, scandium, yttrium, aluminium, calcium, strontium, and barium were subsequently eluted. The best separations were possible from nitric acid in the presence of non-aqueous solvents such as methanol and ethanol.     

Radioecological Research on the Marine Environment Facing the Italian Base in Antarctica (1989–91)

Abstract

The results of the analysis of both natural (Th-232, U-238 and K-40) and artificial (Cs-137) radioactivity contained in samples collected during the 1989–90 and 1990–91 PNRA Scientific Campaigns in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) marine ecosystem, are presented in this paper. The data refers to samples of sea water, pack water, sediments and organisms belonging to demersal ichthyofauna (Pagothenia bernacchii, Chionodraco hamatus) and soft bottom macrofauna (Adamussium colbecki) collected in different coastal and off shore stations of the area investigated. Some sea water samples collected on the way to subAntarctic areas were also considered. The radiocontamination detected in sediments was correlated to the quantities of organic matter, organic carbon and nitrogen contained in the samples. Additionally, Cs-137 concentration factors were calculated for the different biological specimens and their anatomical components. Data values, with special consideration for anthropogenic Cs-137, are compared to results obtained from similar matrixes collected in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate waters before and after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Titanium in Geochemical and Metallurgical Samples

Abstract

The reaction between cyclohexan-1,2-dione bissalicyloylhydrazone and titanium(IV) has been studied spectrophotometrically. An orange complex (λ = 470 nm, ? = 1.49 × 10⁴ 1.mol^?1.cm^?1) is quickly formed at pH 1–2.5 in a 3+2 V/V ethanol/water medium. Interferences (more than 65 species) have been investigated. In presence of some masking agents most of metal ions do not interfere. The orange complex has been satisfactorily used for the determination of titanium in amphibolites, granites, suspended matter, Portland cement, bauxite, cast iron and duraluminium alloy. The results are compared with those obtained using AAS and ICP methods.     

Coprecipitation/accumulation/distribution of manganese and iron, and electrochemical characteristics of Mn in calcareous seawater

A study of managanese and iron associated with particulate matter in seawaters derived from the English Channel (and North Sea). Sequential extraction procedures have been used to identify geochemical processes that govern Mn and Fe coprecipitation/accumulation/distribution in different particulate phases (carbonate; Fe-Mn(hydr)oxides; organic matter and residual phase). The oxidation states of Mn and Fe, some mechanisms of bonding and the magnetic characteristics of particles have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron spin resonance(ESR) spectroscopy, and mass susceptibility balance. The effect of pH and redox potential on stability of different dissolved and particulate Mn species was also examined. In the these calcareous seawaters, manganese (II) is predominantly bound to the carbonate phase (calcite) in the form of Mn_xCa_1-xCO₃. However the persistent occurrence of Mn in oxidation states > 2 in these particles has suggested the existence of manganese(III) in the polymeric FeOOH structures as an intermediate entity during Mn(II) oxidation in the sea. The activity coefficient of the entity MnOOH in FeOOH has been evaluated and p-pH diagrams of Mn have been proposed under marine conditions.     

Determination of Pharmaceutical Drug Residues on Suspended Particulate Material in Surface Water

Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of traces of various pharmaceutical drugs in the aquatic environment. Comprehensive data about the distribution of such compounds between the aqueous phase and suspended particulate material are still missing. In the present article a gas chromatographic method with mass spectrometric detection is presented which allows the determination of the particle-bound fraction of some pharmaceuticals commonly found in surface water. Determination limits are between 2 and 12 ng/g particles. Results from surface water samples indicate the possibility that less hydrophilic pharmaceuticals like mefenamic acid are present as suspended particulate material, although the amounts are small in comparison with the concentrations found in aqueous phase. Additional work will be necessary to evaluate the full importance of particle-bound pharmaceuticals with respect to transportation in the environment.     

Effect of Phosphate on the Adsorption of Glyphosate on Soils,Clay Minerals and Oxides

The effect of phosphate (ortho-phosphate) on the adsorption of the widely used glyphosate herbicide was evaluated with three typical Danish agricultural soils as well as pure oxides (goethite, FeOOH and gibbsite, Al(OH) 3 ) and silicates (illite and montmorillonite), which are considered the most important glyphosate and phosphate adsorbents in soils. Batch experiments where made in order to find out how phosphate affects adsorption of glyphosate and how glyphosate affects adsorbed phosphate. Solution glyphosate was quantified by liquid scintillation counting of 14 C-taggered herbicide and the concentration of phosphate by the molybdenum blue method. All experiments showed competition between phosphate and glyphosate for adsorption sites but the various adsorbents exhibited great variation in affinity for glyphosate and phosphate. Thus, gibbsite and, in particular goethite strongly prefer phosphate, whereas the competition on the silicates is more equal. The current studies showed that the competition in soils is almost equal, but still phosphate affects the sorption of glyphosate in soil. The amount of glyphosate and phosphate adsorbed by the various kinds of adsorbents was found to decrease in the order: oxides > silicates > soils. For the soils tested aluminium oxides, and to a lesser extent iron oxides seem the most important components in determining a soil's ability to adsorb phosphate and glyphosate, whereas the clay content and clay type seem of minor or little importance for adsorption of these species.