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Comparative evaluation of four suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampling devices and their use for monitoring SPM quality

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Abstract

Representative sampling of suspended particulate matter is fundamental for assessing river sediment quality, including the distribution and physicochemical characterisation of particles at different hydrological events. This study compares time-integrated samplers and discrete sampling methods, focusing on (a) the representativeness of the different methods and (b) the comparability between the various sampling techniques. The study investigates whether different sampling devices used under the same conditions can reproduce the annual mean. Two time-integrated sampling techniques (Binnensammler floating collector (BS); self-constructed Phillips sampler (PS)) and two discrete sampling systems (continuous-flow centrifuge (CFC); hydrocyclone (HC)) were compared. The monitoring program (August 2013 to August 2014) was conducted using a 4-week sampling frequency at two different monitoring stations in the Rhine river basin. The analysis of physicochemical parameters included total organic carbon (TOC), particulate phosphorus (PP), grain size distribution (GSD), metals, and organic pollutants (PCBs, HCB, PAH). A nested analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the dependence of suspended matter quality parameters on the sampling method, the sampling device, and the sampling station. According to ANOVA, physical and chemical parameters as well as persistent organic pollutants are homogenous for the time-integrated samplers PS and BS. Comparing PS and the reference technique CFC, only the mean annual concentration of TOC is significantly higher for CFC (5.91%; PS, 4.53%) due to degradation processes. With the exception of TOC, Ni, and GSD, data of BS was comparable with that of CFC. Comparing CFC and HC, there are significant differences for GSD, Zn, and Ni. An analysis of the time series of GSD < 63 μm and sum of PAHs confirms the findings of the nested ANOVA, showing that HC time series display significant differences compared with the other samplers.

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Abbreviations

BS:

Binnensammler

PS:

Phillips sampler

HC:

Hydrocyclone

CFC:

Continuous-flow centrifuge

SPM:

Suspended particulate matter

GSD:

Grain size distribution

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Funding

The project “Vergleich neuartiger Geräte zur Schwebstoffgewinnung für das chemische Gewässermonitoring—SchwebSam” (Comparison of innovative devices for suspended matter sampling for chemical monitoring of rivers) was funded by the Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (BMVI). We thank the Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-Württemberg (LUBW) and the Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt (WSA) Freiburg for supporting this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrology, Trier University, 54286, Trier, Germany

    Sabine Keßler, Kristiana Wilcsek & Reinhard Bierl

  2. Institute for Organic Agriculture a.s.b.l. (IBLA), 27, Op der Schanz, 6225, Altrier, Luxembourg

    Sabine Keßler

  3. Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany

    Thorsten Pohlert & Vera Breitung

Authors
  1. Sabine Keßler
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  2. Thorsten Pohlert
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  3. Vera Breitung
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  4. Kristiana Wilcsek
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  5. Reinhard Bierl
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Correspondence to Sabine Keßler.

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Responsible editor: Christian Gagnon

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Article highlights

- Time-integrated and discrete sampling techniques for suspended sediments have been analyzed for comparability.

- A nested ANOVA shows homogeneity for suspended sediments sampled by different time-integrated techniques.

- Samples of time-integrated Phillips sampler equal discrete samples of continuous-flow centrifuge with the exception of TOC.

- Discrete sampling by hydrocyclone is easy to use but not comparable for all parameters.

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Keßler, S., Pohlert, T., Breitung, V. et al. Comparative evaluation of four suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampling devices and their use for monitoring SPM quality. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 5993–6008 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07314-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07314-0

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