Abstract
Recent experimental evidence concerning the chemical forms of zinc occurring in sea water is reviewed in order to aid in the systematic understanding of zinc geochemistry in the marine environment. The review indicates the necessity of systematizing the results obtained by different methods for the determination of zinc in sea water with respect to the chemical nature of the zinc fractions measured.
Analytical procedures for the zinc determinations in sea water by spectrophotometry with dithizone extraction and anodic stripping voltammetry with composite mercury graphite electrodes are described. By using these methods, various pre-treatment tests were carried out to relate the results of different modes of measurements to the chemical forms of zinc involved. The comparisons of the results of these tests lead to an estimation of the occurrence of the following categories of chemical forms of zinc in sea water: (1) ionic plus labile form, (2) inorganic complexes and colloids as well as weak organic complexes and (3) occuled fraction in large organic molecules and/or organic colloids. Capabilities of different analytical procedures for differentiating one category from another are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdullah, M. I., L. G. Royle andA. W. Morris (1972): Heavy metal concentrattion in coastal waters. Nature (Lond.),235, 158–160.
Burrell, D. C. andG. G. Wood (1969): Direct determination of zinc in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry. Anal. Chim. Acta,48, 45–49.
Elderfield, H., L. Thornton and J. S. Webb (1971): Heavy metals and oyster culture in Wales. Mar. Poll. Bull.,2, 44–47.
Fukai, R. (1973): A contribution to the stability aspect of metal organic complexes in sea water.In: Proc. of Symp. on Hydrogeochem. and Biogeochem. (E. Ingerson, Ed.) Vol. II, The Clarke Company, Washington, D. C., pp. 562–570.
Fukai, R., L. Huynh-Ngoc andC. N. Murray (1973): Possible transformation of zinc dissolved in Mediterranean coastal sea water. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,29, 44–45.
Fukai, R., C. N. Murray andL. Huynh-Ngoc (1975): Variations of soluble zinc in the Var River and its estuary. Estuar. Coast. Mar. Sci.,3, 177–188.
Gordon, D. C. Jr. andW. H. Sutcliffe, Jr. (1973): A new dry combustion method for the simultaneous determination of total organic carbon and nitrogen in sea water. Mar. Chem.,1, 231–244.
Holmes, C. W., E.A. Slade andC.J. McLerran (1974): Migration and redistribution of zinc and cadmium in marine estuarine systems. Envir. Sci. Tech.,8, 255–259.
Huynh-ngoc, L. (1973): L'application de l'electrode indicatrice “graphite-mercure” en redissolution anodique par voltametrie pour la determination simultanee du zinc, du cadmium, du plomb et du cuivre dans l'environment aquatique. Thesis pour Docteur d'Université, Institut Mathematiques et Sciences Physiques, l'Université de Nice, Oct. 1973, 124 pp.
Knauer, G. A. andJ. H. Martin (1973): Seasonal variations of cadmium, copper, manganese, lead and zinc in water and phytoplankton in Monterey Bay, California. Limnol. Oceanogr.,18, 597–604.
Kremling, K. (1973): Voltametrische Messungen über die Verteilung von Zink, Cadmium, Blei und Kupfer in der Ostsee. Kieler Meeresforsch.,29, 77–84.
Menzel, D. W. andN. Corwin (1965): The measurement of total phosphorus in sea water based on the liberation of organically bound fractions by persulfate oxidation. Limnol. Oceanogr.,10, 280–282.
Morris, A. W. (1968): The simultaneous determination of vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc in sea water by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Anal. Chim. Acta,42, 397–406.
Morris, A. W. (1971): Trace metal variations in sea water of the Menai Straits caused by a bloom ofPhaeocystis. Nature (Lond.),233, 427–428.
Morris, A. W. (1974): Seasonal variation of dissolved metals in inshore waters of the Menai Straits. Mar. Poll. Bull.,5, 54–59.
Piro, A., M. Bernhard, M. Branica andM. Verzi (1973): Incomplete exchange reaction between radioactive ionic zinc and stable natural zinc in sea water.In: Radioactive Contamination of the Marine Environment, IAEA, Vienna, pp. 29–45.
Preston, A., D. F. Jefferies, J. W. R. Dutton, B. R. Harvey andA. K. Steele (1972): British Isles coastal waters — the concentrations of selected heavy metals in sea water, suspended matter and biological indicators — a pilot survey. Environm. Poll.,3, 69–82.
Sharp, J. H. (1973): Total organic carbon in sea water-Comparison of measurements using persulfate oxidation and high temperature combustion. Mar. Chem.,1, 211–229.
Slowey, J. F. andD. W. Hood (1971): Copper, manganese and zinc concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico waters. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,35, 121–138.
Spencer, D. W. andP. G. Brewer (1969): The distribution of copper, zinc and nickel in sea water of the Gulf of Maine and the Sargasso Sea. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,33, 325–339.
Spencer, D. W. andP. G. Brewer (1971): Vertical advection diffusion and redox potentials as controls on the distribution of manganese and other trace metals dissolved in waters of the Black Sea. J. Geophys. Res.,76, 5877–5892.
Spencer, D. W., D. E. Robertson, K. K. Turekian andT.R. Folsom (1970): Trace element calibrations and profiles at the Geosecs Test Station in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. J. Geophys. Res.,75, 7688–7696.
Williams, P. M. (1969): The determination of dissolved organic carbon in sea water: A comparison of two methods. Limnol. Oceanogr.14, 297–298.
Zirino, A. andM. L. Healy (1971): Voltammetric measurement of zinc in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Limnol. Oceanogr.,16, 773–778.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fukai, R., Huynh-Ngoc, L. Chemical forms of zinc in sea water. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 31, 179–191 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02150957
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02150957