Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Critical Evaluation of Sample Pretreatment for Storage of Contaminated Sediments to be Investigated for the Potential Mobility of their Heavy Metal Load

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The identification of the geochemical forms of heavy metals in contaminated sediments gives information on their availability. This requires the use of a geochemical speciation procedure such as the one developed by Tessier et al. (1979). In addition to the imperfections of these protocols, their results can vary depending on the technique used for the preservation of sediments which must be suited to the materials studied and to particularities of the investigation. This study was carried out on superficial river sediments, seriously polluted by Cu, Cd and Pb. Compared to fresh sediment, none of the drying methods studied (freeze-drying, air-drying and oven-drying at 105 °C) completely preserve the distribution of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in the various geochemical fractions of the sediment. The modifications depend directly on the quantities of metals present in the various fractions of the sediment, the effects being more marked when the quantity is smallest. This results in a decrease in metals in the exchangeable fraction and in those bound to carbonates under the action of atmospheric oxygen and a corresponding increase in the other fractions. To minimize this, freeze-drying and air-drying are satisfactory techniques which enable preservation of sediments representative of the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AFNOR: 1994, Qualité des sols. AFNOR Edition, 250 p.

  • Ajayi, S. O. and Vanloon, G. W.: 1989, Sc. Tot. Environ. 87/88, 171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batley, G. E. and Gardner, D.: 1977, Water Res. 11, 745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belzile, N. Lecomte, P. and Tessier, A.: 1989, Environ. Sci. Technol. 23, 1015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chester, R. and Hughes, M. J.: 1975, Chem. Geol. 2, 249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, C. M. Thomas, R. P. Mc Vey, S. E. Perala, R. Littejohn, D. and Ure, A. M.: 1994, Anal. Chim. Acta. 291, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flores-Rodriguez-Julio. J.: Les Métaux toxiques dans les Eaux Pluviales en Milieu Urbain: Caractéristiques physico-chimiques, Doctoral Thesis, Univ. of Paris VII, France.

  • Förstner, U.: 1993, Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 51, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D. and Arrhenius, G. O. S.: 1958, Geochim Cosmochim. Acta. 13, 153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kersten, M. and Förstner, U: 1987, Mar. Chem. 2, 299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kheboian, C. and Bauer, C.: 1987, Anal. Chem. 59, 1417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. M., Nirel, P. and Thomas, A. J.: 1987, Mar. Chem. 22, 313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meguellati, N.: 1982, Mise au point d'un schéma d'extractions sélectives des polluants métalliques associés aux diverse phases constitutives des sédiments, Doctoral Thesis, Univ. of Pau, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nirel, P. M. V. and Morel, G. M. M.: 1990, Wat. Res. 24(8), 1055.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, G., Förstner, U. and Stoffers, P.: 1982, Senckengerg. Marit. 14, 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickering, W. F.: 1981, CRC Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem. 12, 233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapin, F., Tessier, A. Campbell, P. G. C. and Carignan, R.: 1986, Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauret, G. Rubio, R. and Lopez-Sanchez, J. F.: 1989, Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 36, 69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rendell, P. S., Batley, G. E. and Cameron, A. J.: 1980, Environ. Sci. Techn. 14, 314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubio, R. and Ure, A. M.: 1993, Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 51, 205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukry, R.: 1993, Détermination de la pollution des sédiments d'un cours d'eau par des métaux lourds (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni). Etude de leur accumulation et de leur relargage: Rôle du pH, de la température et de la composition du sédiment, Doctoral Thesis, Univ. of Limoges, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A. and Campbell, P. G. C.: 1991, Water Res. 25(1), 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A. Campbell, P. G. C. and Bisson, M.: 1979b, Anal. Chem. 51, 844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, E. A. Luoma, S. N., Cain, D. J. and Johansson, C.: 1980, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 14, 215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tipping, E., Hetherington, N. B. Hilton, J. Thompson, D. W. Bowles, E. and Hamilton-Taylor, J.: 1985, Geochim, Cosmochim. Acta 49, 183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalley, C. and Grant, A.: 1994, Anal. Chim. Acta 291, 287.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Limoges, 123, av. Albert Thomas, 87060, Limoges, France

    François Bordas & Alain C. M. Bourg

Authors
  1. François Bordas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alain C. M. Bourg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bordas, F., Bourg, A.C.M. A Critical Evaluation of Sample Pretreatment for Storage of Contaminated Sediments to be Investigated for the Potential Mobility of their Heavy Metal Load. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 103, 137–149 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004952608950

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004952608950

Search

Navigation