Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determining the experimental leachability of copper, lead, and zinc in a harbor sediment and modeling

  • Use of iron and other transition metals in environmental remediation processes
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The potential leaching of pollutants present in harbor sediments has to be evaluated in order to choose the best practices for managing them. Little is known about the speciation and mobility of heavy metals in these specific solid materials. The objective of this paper is to determine and model the leachability of copper, lead, and zinc present in harbor sediments in order to obtain essential new data. The mobility of inorganic contaminants in a polluted harbor sediment collected in France was investigated as a function of physicochemical conditions. The investigation relied mainly on the use of leaching tests performed in combination with mineralogical analysis and thermodynamic modeling using PHREEQC. The modeling phase was dedicated to both confirm the hypothesis formulated to explain the experimental results and improve the determination of the main physico-chemical parameters governing mobility. The experimental results and modeling showed that the release of copper, lead, and zinc is very low with deionized water which is due to the stability of the associated solid phases (organic matter, carbonate minerals, and/or iron sulfides) at natural slightly basic conditions. However, increased mobilization is observed under pH values below 6.0 and above 10.0. This methodology helped to consistently obtain the geochemical parameters governing the mobility of the contaminants studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acquavita A, Predonzani S, Mattassi G, Rossin P, Tamberlich F, Falomo J, Valic I (2010) Heavy metal contents and distribution in coastal sediments of the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy). Water Air Soil Poll 211:95–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Association Française de NORmalisation (AFNOR) (1996) Qualité des sols—Sols, sédiments—Mise en solution totale par attaque acide, NF X31-147. AFNOR Editions, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Botté SE, Freije RH, Marcovecchio JE (2010) Distribution of several heavy metals in tidal flats sediments within Bahia Blanca estuary (Argentina). Water Air Soil Poll 210:371–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan EW, Lindsay WL (1996) The role of pyrite in controlling metal ion activities in highly reduced soils. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 60:3609–3618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown GE, Calas G (2011) Environmental mineralogy—understanding element behavior in ecosystems. CR Geosciences 343:90–112. doi:10.1016/j.crte.2010.12.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buruaem LM, Hortellani MA, Sarkis JE, Costa-Lotufo LV, Abessa DMS (2012) Contamination of port zone sediments by metals from large marine ecosystems of Brazil. Mar Poll Bull 64:479–488. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.01.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caille N, Tiffreau C, Leyval C, Morel JL (2003) Solubility of metals in an anoxic sediment during prolonged aeration. Sci Tot Environ 301:239–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cambier P (1991) Modélisation des phénomènes d’adsorption des solutés sur les surfaces minérales. Synthèse bibliographique. Science du sol 29:245–264

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caplat C, Texier H, Barillier D, Lelievre C (2005) Heavy metals mobility in harbour contaminated sediments: the case of Port-en-Bessin. Mar Pollut Bull 50:504–511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carman CMI, Xiang-Dong L, Gan Z, Onyx WHW, Yok-Sheung L (2007) Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal area, South China. Environ Poll 147:311–323. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.06.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casado-Martínez MC, Buceta JL, Belzunce MJ, DelValls TA (2006) Using sediment quality guidelines for dredged material management in commercial ports from Spain. Environ Int 32:388–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casado-Martínez MC, Forja JM, DelValls TA (2009) A multivariate assessment of sediment contamination in dredged materials from Spanish ports. J Hazard Mater 163:1353–1359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassi R, Tolosa I, Mora SD (2008) A survey of antifoulants in sediments from ports and marinas along the French Mediterranean coast. Mar Pollut Bull 56:1943–1948

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chatain V, Sanchez F, Bayard R, Moszkowicz P, Gourdon R (2005) Effect of experimentally induced reducing conditions on the mobility of arsenic from a mining soil. J Hazard Mat 122:119–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delolme C, Hébrard-Labit C, Spadini L, Gaudet JP (2004) Experimental study and modeling of the transfer of zinc in a low reactive sand column in the presence of acetate. J Cont Hydrol 70:205–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drahota P, Filippi M (2009) Secondary arsenic minerals in the environment: A review. Environ Int 35:1243–1255

    Google Scholar 

  • Dzombak DA, Morel FMM (1990) Surface complexation modelling—hydrous ferric oxide. John Wiley & sons, New york

    Google Scholar 

  • European Council, (2002). Council decision of 19 December 2002 establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16 of Annex II to directive 1999/31/EC(2003/33/EC). Off J Eur Communities L11/27 (16.01.03)

  • Förstner U (1995) Non linear release of metals from aquatic sediments. In: Salomons W, Stigliani A (eds) Biogeodynamics of pollutants in soils and sediments. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp 247–307

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • French Official Journal (2000) J.O.No. 184 (10 August 2000) 12415 (NOR: ATEE0090254A)

  • Grosdemange D, Leveque F, Drousie D, Aqua JL, Mehu J, Bazin C (2008) The SEDIMARD project: presentation and results. In: International symposium on sediment management (I2SM). Lille, France

  • Guevara-Riba A, Sahuquillo A, Rubio R, Rauret G (2004) Assessment of metal mobility in dredged harbour sediments from Barcelona, Spain. Sci Tot Environ 321:241–255. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.08.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta-Diaz MA, Tessier A, Carignan R (1998) Geochemistry of trace metals associated with reduced sulfur in freshwater sediments. Appl Geochem 13:213–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isaure MP, Laboudigue A, Manceau A, Sarret G, Tiffreau C, Trocellier P, Lamble G, Hazemann JL, Chateigner D (2002) Quantitative Zn speciation in a contaminated dredged sediment by μ-PIXE, μ-SXRF, EXAFS spectroscopy and principal component analysis. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 66:1549–1567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kosson DS, Van der Sloot HA, Sanchez F, Garrabrants AC (2002) An integrated framework for evaluating leaching in waste management and utilization of secondary materials. Environ Eng Sci 19:159–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mamindy-Pajany Y, Géret F, Roméo M, Hurel C, Marmier N (2012) Ex situ remediation of contaminated sediments using mineral additives: assessment of pollutant bioavailability with the Microtox solid phase test. Chemosphere 86:1112–1116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manceau A, Matynia A (2010) The nature of copper bonding to natural organic matter. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 74:2556–2580

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Lladó X, Gibert O, Martí V, Díez S, Romo J, Bayona JM, de Pablo J (2007) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tributyltin (TBT) in Barcelona harbour sediments and their impact on benthic communities. Environ Pollut 149:104–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merdy P, Gharbi LT, Lucas Y (2009) Pb, Cu and Cr interactions with soil: sorption experiments and modeling. Colloids and surfaces A: physicochem. Eng Aspects 347:192–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morillo J, Usero J, Gracia I (2004) Heavy metal distribution in marine sediments from the southwest coast of Spain. Chemosphere 55:431–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morse JW, Luther GM (1999) Chemical influences on trace metal-sulfide interactions in anoxic sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 63:3373–3378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to phreeqC (version 2)—a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Denver, Colorado

  • Perrodin Y, Donguy G, Pandard P Andres S (2012) Guide méthodologique pour l’évaluation des risques écologiques liés à la restauration de carrières de la zone littorale à l’aide de sédiments de dragage portuaires prétraités. Programme ANR « SEDIGEST » TOME 1 Présentation de la méthodologie. 62 p. (URL:http://www.sedigest.org/documents/Sedigest_Guide_pour_EDR_Ecologiques.pdf)

  • Peyronnard O, Blanc D, Benzaazoua M, Moskowicz P (2009) Study of mineralogy and leaching behavior of stabilized/solidified sludge using differential acid neutralization analysis. Part II: use of numerical simulation as an aid tool for cementitious hydrates identification. Cement Concrete Res 39:501–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quevauviller P, Rauret G, López-Sánchez JF, Rubiob R, Urec A, Muntaud H (1997) Certification of trace metal extractable contents in a sediment reference material (CRM 601) following a three-step sequential extraction procedure. Sci Tot Environ 205:223–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakellari A, Plavšić M, Karavoltos S, Dassenakis M, Scoullos M (2011) Assessment of copper, cadmium and zinc remobilization in Mediterranean marine coastal sediments. Estuar Coast Shelf S 91:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi J, Carman CM, Zhang G, Jiang G, Li X (2010) Mercury profiles in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal area of South China. Environ Poll 158:1974–1979

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundaray SK, Nayak BB, Lin S, Bhatta D (2011) Geochemical speciation and risk assessment of heavy metals in the river estuarine sediments—a case study: Mahanadi basin, India. J Hazard Mat 186:1837–1846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier A, Campbell PGC, Bisson M (1979) Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulated metals. Anal Chem 51:844–851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier E, Garnier C, Mullot JU, Lenoble V, Arnaud M, Raynaud M, Mounier S (2011) Study of the spatial and historical distribution of sediment inorganic contamination in the Toulon bay (France). Mar Pollut Bull 62:2075–2086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency/US Army Corps of Engineers (1992) Evaluating environmental effects of dredged material management alternatives—a technical framework. EPA-842-B-92-008. Office of Water, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Usero J, Gamero M, Morillo J, Gracia I (1998) Comparative study of three sequential extraction procedures for metals in marine sediments. Environ Int 24:487–496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Sloot HA, Van Zomeren A, Djikstra JJ, Meussen JCL, Comans RNJ, Scharf H (2005) Prediction of the leaching behaviour of waste mixture by chemical speciation modelling based on a limited set of key parameters, 2005 ECN RX 05–164 ECN

  • Vane CH, Harrison I, Kim AW, Moss-Hayes V, Vickers BP, Horton BP (2008) Status of organic pollutants in surface sediments of Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary, New Jersey, USA. Mar Pollut Bull 56:1802–1814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yap CK, Ismail A, Tan SG, Omar H (2002) Concentrations of Cu and Pb in the offshore and intertidal sediments of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Environ Int 28:467–479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research presented in this paper was funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR, France). The authors are grateful to EEDEMS (French Research Network on Waste and Polluted Materials Management) and POLDEN (French Applied Research and Consultancy Team on environment, waste, and polluted materials management) for providing experimental support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSA-Lyon, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et d’Ingénierie Environnementale LGCIE, Université de Lyon, 20 avenue Albert Einstein, 69621, Villeurbanne, France

    Vincent Chatain & Denise Blanc

  2. CNRS, CEREGE, Aix-Marseille Université, Europôle Méditerranéen de l’Arbois, BP 80, Aix-En-Provence Cedex 4, 13545, France

    Daniel Borschneck

  3. UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1; ENTPE; CNRS; 3, rue Maurice Audin, Vaulx-en-Velin, 69518, France

    Cécile Delolme

Authors
  1. Vincent Chatain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Denise Blanc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniel Borschneck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cécile Delolme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cécile Delolme.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chatain, V., Blanc, D., Borschneck, D. et al. Determining the experimental leachability of copper, lead, and zinc in a harbor sediment and modeling. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 66–74 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1233-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1233-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation