Return to search

Distribution and Partitioning of Trace Elements in Estuaries and Coasts off Southwestern Taiwan

Water samples were collected along salinity gradients during different seasons from three estuaries (Tseng-Wen, Gao-Ping, Er-Ren) and coasts in/off southwestern Taiwan. In order to assess the partitioning of trace metals between solution and particle, the concentrations of dissolve and particulate trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb) along with their chemical affinity fractions, were determined. This study investigated the variations in distribution and partitioning of the different metals in estuarine waters, and examined the effects of oxides and particulate organic matter on the partitioning of trace metals in waters from different estuaries.
Fractionation of dissolved trace metal species was based on ion exchange (Chelex-100 and AG MP-1 resins) separation techniques. The fractions obtained were operationally defined as labile (Chelex), organic (AG MP-1) and inert. Particles were extracted to three phases (surface adsorbed phases, Fe¡VMn oxide/organic phases and refractory phases) using sequential extraction techniques.
Seasonally variable distributions of dissolved trace metals were found in the Tseng-Wen estuary. The behavior of trace metals was mainly influenced by anthropogenic input during the dry season in the upper Tseng-Wen estuary, while mixing processes controlled the distribution of trace metals during the wet season. The dilution effect was a major factor in the metal distribution in the Gao-Ping estuary due to high river discharge. The higher concentration of metals in the Er-Ren estuary, in contrast to other estuaries indicated that the Er-Ren estuary has serious pollution concerns.
According to the results of particulate metal fractions obtained, Cd and Pb existed predominantly in the surface adsorbed phase. The speciation and spatial distribution of Cd were similar to those of Mn, indicating that the formation of authigenic Mn oxides affected the distribution of Cd in estuaries. The percentage of oxide /organic phase for Cu accounted for 25% of total particulate Cu, but dose not correlate well with particulate organic carbon, implying that organic carbon is not the only factor controlling particulate Cu distribution. Ni was present mainly in lattice phase, except in the Er-Ren estuary where anthropogenic Ni loading was high. In the Tseng-Wen and Gao-Ping estuaries, the percentages of lattice phase of all metals determined in this study during the wet season were higher than those during the dry season. These seasonal variations are probably resulted from different flushing times in dry/wet seasons, which control the extent of geochemical processes for trace elements.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:NSYSU/oai:NSYSU:etd-0126111-151124
Date26 January 2011
CreatorsHo, Peng
ContributorsDavid Der-Duen Sheu, Liang-Saw Wen, Kuo-Tung Jiann, Chin-Chang Hung
PublisherNSYSU
Source SetsNSYSU Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive
LanguageCholon
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.lib.nsysu.edu.tw/ETD-db/ETD-search/view_etd?URN=etd-0126111-151124
Rightsoff_campus_withheld, Copyright information available at source archive

Page generated in 0.0017 seconds