48
River and Stream Sediments
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Various workers have applied this technique to
the determination of metals in sediments [63-66]. Prange [65] determined up to
25 trace elements using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Lichtfuss and Brummer [66] determined traces of chromium, manganese, cobalt,
nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, rubidium, strontium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in
river sediments without prior fusion of the samples. Tablets were prepared for
analysis with a synthetic wax. Linear relationships were obtained between element
concentration and radiation intensity. Results obtained by this method were compared with those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry in determinations of
manganese, zinc, and copper in river sediments containing a range of concentrations of organic carbon, calcium carbonate, and iron. At concentration levels above
about 100 mg kg- I the X-ray method tends to give higher results. As regards the
other elements, the following concentration ranges were determined:
lead 24-260 mg kg-I, chromium 39-185 mg kg-I, arsenic 7.9-161 mg kg-I, strontium
118-189 mg kg-I, rubidium 58-105 mg kg-I, nickel 12.7-67 mg kg-I, cobalt 4.1-24 mg
kg-I, mercury 1.8-12.6 mg kg-I, and cadmium 3.1-10.7 mg kg-I.
Schneider and Weiler [74] give details of a procedure for the rapid separation of
sediment particles less than 10 IJlll in size prior to determination of metals by totally
reflecting X-ray spectrometry.
Neutron Activation Analysis. This non-destructive analytical technique has been
applied by various workers [67-73] to the determination of total trace elements in
river sediments. Typically [71], the sediment is wrapped in aluminium foil and sealed
in a polyethylene container which is irradiated with thermal neutrons for 1-3 days,
then allowed to cool for 1 day prior to gamma spectrometry.
The elements that have been determined are antimony, gold, barium, bromine,
calcium, cerium, cobalt, chromium, europium, iron, potassium, lanthanum, molybdenum, scandium, selenium, sodium, uranium, and zinc [68,69], antimony, arsenic,
barium, cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese, mercury, selenium, silver, uranium and
zinc [70], antimony, arsenic, barium, bromine, chromium, cobalt, europium, iron,
lanthanum, manganese, potassium, scandium, sodium, tungsten and uranium [71,72].
Detection limits achieved by Ackermann [70] ranged from 0.06 mg kg- I (cobalt) to
70 mg kg- I (barium, iron, tin), (Table 2.25).
Bart and Von Gunten [71] used neutron activation analysis to study the distribution of elements between water and sedimentary solids and found distinct differences
between elements, e. g. iron 9 mg kg- I in sediment corresponds to 15 ~g I-I in solution
( C sus1e~sion = 0.6), cobalt 40 mg kg- I in sediment corresponds to 0.15 ~g I-I in
C So utlOn
1 f
(C Suspension = 267)
so u Ion C Solution
.
Labresque et al. [73] determined 11 rare earth elements, thorium and uranium in
river sediments, employing a germanium detector for gamma ray spectrometry.
Xiao-Quan and Biu Chen [751] evaluated sequential extraction methods for the
extraction of a range of elements from humic rich sediments. The elements discussed
River and Stream Sediments
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Various workers have applied this technique to
the determination of metals in sediments [63-66]. Prange [65] determined up to
25 trace elements using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Lichtfuss and Brummer [66] determined traces of chromium, manganese, cobalt,
nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, rubidium, strontium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in
river sediments without prior fusion of the samples. Tablets were prepared for
analysis with a synthetic wax. Linear relationships were obtained between element
concentration and radiation intensity. Results obtained by this method were compared with those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry in determinations of
manganese, zinc, and copper in river sediments containing a range of concentrations of organic carbon, calcium carbonate, and iron. At concentration levels above
about 100 mg kg- I the X-ray method tends to give higher results. As regards the
other elements, the following concentration ranges were determined:
lead 24-260 mg kg-I, chromium 39-185 mg kg-I, arsenic 7.9-161 mg kg-I, strontium
118-189 mg kg-I, rubidium 58-105 mg kg-I, nickel 12.7-67 mg kg-I, cobalt 4.1-24 mg
kg-I, mercury 1.8-12.6 mg kg-I, and cadmium 3.1-10.7 mg kg-I.
Schneider and Weiler [74] give details of a procedure for the rapid separation of
sediment particles less than 10 IJlll in size prior to determination of metals by totally
reflecting X-ray spectrometry.
Neutron Activation Analysis. This non-destructive analytical technique has been
applied by various workers [67-73] to the determination of total trace elements in
river sediments. Typically [71], the sediment is wrapped in aluminium foil and sealed
in a polyethylene container which is irradiated with thermal neutrons for 1-3 days,
then allowed to cool for 1 day prior to gamma spectrometry.
The elements that have been determined are antimony, gold, barium, bromine,
calcium, cerium, cobalt, chromium, europium, iron, potassium, lanthanum, molybdenum, scandium, selenium, sodium, uranium, and zinc [68,69], antimony, arsenic,
barium, cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese, mercury, selenium, silver, uranium and
zinc [70], antimony, arsenic, barium, bromine, chromium, cobalt, europium, iron,
lanthanum, manganese, potassium, scandium, sodium, tungsten and uranium [71,72].
Detection limits achieved by Ackermann [70] ranged from 0.06 mg kg- I (cobalt) to
70 mg kg- I (barium, iron, tin), (Table 2.25).
Bart and Von Gunten [71] used neutron activation analysis to study the distribution of elements between water and sedimentary solids and found distinct differences
between elements, e. g. iron 9 mg kg- I in sediment corresponds to 15 ~g I-I in solution
( C sus1e~sion = 0.6), cobalt 40 mg kg- I in sediment corresponds to 0.15 ~g I-I in
C So utlOn
1 f
(C Suspension = 267)
so u Ion C Solution
.
Labresque et al. [73] determined 11 rare earth elements, thorium and uranium in
river sediments, employing a germanium detector for gamma ray spectrometry.
Xiao-Quan and Biu Chen [751] evaluated sequential extraction methods for the
extraction of a range of elements from humic rich sediments. The elements discussed