Comparison of Different Extraction Approaches for Heavy Metal Partitioning in Sediment Samples

Three extraction methods, ultrasonic assisted extraction (USE), microwave assisted extraction (MSE), and conventional single extraction (CSE), in conjunction with the modified three-stage BCR sequential extraction procedure (SEP) were applied to examine the contents of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn from lake sediment samples, to know whether these techniques can reduce extraction time and improve reproducibility. The SEP and developed alternative single extrac- tion methods were validated by the analysis of certified reference material BCR 601. By the use of optimized sonication and microwave conditions, steps 1, 2 and 3 of the BCR sequential extraction methods (excluding the hydrogen peroxide digestion in step 3, which was not performed with sonication and microwave) could be completed in 15-30 min and 60- 150 s, respectively. The recoveries of total extractable metal contents in BCR 601, obtained by three single extractions ranged from 93.3%-102%, 88.9%-104% and 81.2%-96.2% for CSE, USE and MSE, respectively. The precision of the single extraction methods was found in the range of 3.7%-9.4% for all metals (n = 6).

Environmental availability and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in zinc leaching residue

Four different methods,namely mineralogical analysis,three-stage BCR sequential extraction procedure,dynamic leaching test and Hakanson Potential Ecological Risk Index Method were used to access the environmental activity and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in zinc leaching residue.The results demonstrate that the environmental activity of heavy metals declines in the following order：CdZnCuAsPb.Potential ecological risk indices for single heavy metal are CdZnCuAsPb.Cd has serious potential ecological risk to the ecological environment and contributes most to the potential toxicity response indices for various heavy metals in the residue.

Concentrations and chemical forms of potentially toxic metals in road-deposited sediments from different zones of Hangzhou, China

The 25 road-deposited sediments were collected from five different land-use zones （industrial, residential, commercial, park, and countryside） in Hangzhou, China. The concentrations of metals （Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn） in these samples were determined using ICP-AES after digestion with the mixture of HNO3-HF-HC1 （aqua regia）, and chemically fractionated according to the modified BCR （the European Community Bureau of Reference） sequential extraction procedure. The high metal concentration levels were detected in the sample from industrial zone and commercial zone having heavy traffic. While the low metal levels were noted in the street dust sample from residential zone, park, and countryside zone. The mobility sequence based on the sum of the BCR sequential extraction stages was： Zn （80.28%）, Pb （78.68%）, Cd （77.66%） 〉 Cu （73.34%） 〉 Mn （67.92%） 〉 Co （41.66%） 〉 Ni （30.36%） 〉 Cr （21.56%）, Fe （20.86%）. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to the data matrix to evaluate the analytical results and to identify the possible pollution sources of metals. Factor analysis showed that these areas were mainly contaminated by three sources, namely lithology, traffic, and industry.

Physicochemical properties of arsenic-bearing lime-ferrate sludge and its leaching behaviors

Physicochemical properties and leaching behaviors of two typical arsenic-bearing lime?ferrate sludges(ABLFS),waste acid residue(WAR)and calcium arsenate residue(CAR),are comprehensively described.The chemical composition,morphological features,phase composition and arsenic occurrence state of WAR and CAR are analyzed by ICP?AES,SEM?EDS,XRD,XPS and chemical phase analysis.The toxicity leaching test and three-stage BCR sequential extraction procedure are utilized to investigate arsenic leaching behaviors.The results show that the contents of arsenic in WAR and CAR are2.5%and21.2%and mainly present in the phases of arsenate and arsenic oxides dispersed uniformly or agglomerated in amorphous particles.The leaching concentrations of arsenic excess119and1063times of TCLP standard regulatory level with leaching rates of47.66%and50.15%for WAR and CAR,respectively.About90%of extracted arsenic is in the form of acid soluble and reducible,which is the reason of high arsenic leaching toxicity and environmental activity of ABLFS.This research provides comprehensive information on harmless disposal of ABLFS from industrial wastewater treatment of lime?ferrate process.

Heavy Metal Pollution of Sediments from Coastal Areas： Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Polluted Surface Sediments from the Bay of Luanda, Angola

Luanda bay has been acting as a sink for the untreated municipal and industrial effluents from a part of the city. Sediment samples were analyzed for their total organic carbon contents and pseudo-total concentrations ofFe, Mn, Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr The highest concentrations of organic carbon and Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were found near the sewerage discharge outlets, exceeding in these points the lowest Sediment Quality Guidelines for the occurrence of adverse biological effects. A further study, based on the latest version of the BCR sequential extraction procedure, was undertaken in order to assess the physical/chemical binding and bioavailability ofFe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in these sediments. The toxic metals Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu pose a potential environmental risk, because they were extracted from the sediment labile fractions in concentrations that exceeded the corresponding ERL （Effects Range Low） values, entering the range within which adverse biological effects occur. The non-residual fractions of metals ranged from 91 to 100% for Cd, 89 to 94% for Zn, 67 to 100% for Pb, 71 to 82% for Cu, 30 to 77% for Mn and 39 to 48% for Fe. Measures to be taken for the disposal of the polluted dredged sediments are shown in this work.

Antimony smelting process generating solid wastes and dust:Characterization and leaching behaviors

A large amount of solid waste has been produced by the antimony smelting process in the＂World Capital of Antimony＂, Xikuangshan area in China. This study comprehensively investigated the physical and chemical characteristics of the various solid wastes, as well as the leaching behavior of the solid wastes, which included water-quenched slag,arsenic-alkali residue, desulfurized slag and blast furnace dust. These four types of waste were enriched in a variety of heavy metals and metalloids and more specifically with As and Sb levels up to 8.6 × 104 and 3.16 × 105mg/kg, respectively, in arsenic-alkali residue. For desulfurized slag and water-quenched slag, the leaching concentration of Sb significantly exceeded the acceptable limits during the leaching tests using the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure and the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure. In addition, As leaching in arsenic-alkali residue was extraordinarily hazardous, being three orders of magnitude higher than the regulatory level of As. According to the results of the extraction tests, all the tested wastes were classified as hazardous waste.

Effects of eggshell addition on calcium-deficient acid soils contaminated with heavy metals

In this study, effects of water conditions （flooded, wet, or dry） and eggshell dosages （0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 g/kg soil, respectively） on pH variation, content of unavailable state of heavy metals, form of heavy metals, and available nutritious element calcium （Ca） in acid soils contaminated with heavy metals were investigated, respectively. The soil samples were continuously cultivated indoors and analyzed by toxicity characteristic leaching procedure and community bureau of reference （BCR） sequential extraction procedure. The results showed that the addition of eggshell could effectively improve the pH of acid soil and increase it to neutral level. Moreover, the contents of unavailable state of heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Cd increased significantly. Furthermore, when the soil was cultivated under the flooded condition with 1.0 g/kg eggshell, the unavailable state ofCu, Zn, and Cd increased the most, and these heavy metals were transformed into residual state. On the other hand, the amount of available state of Ca increased to 432.19 from 73.34 mg/kg with the addition of 1.0 g/kg eggshell, which indicated that the addition of eggshell dramatically improved the available state of Ca. Therefore, eggshell could ameliorate the soil environment as it led to the decrease of available heavy metals and improvement of fertilization effectively. In a word, this study indicates that the addition of eggshell would be a new potential method for remediation of acid field soils contaminated with heavy metals.