Chemical Speciation of Elements in Sediment Samples Collected at Lake Balaton

✍ Scribed by József Hlavay; Klára Polyák

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 224 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0026-265X
• DOI: 10.1006/mchj.1997.1557

✦ Synopsis

A modified sequential extraction procedure was applied to determination of the distribution of seven elements (Cd, Cu, As, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn) in sediment samples collected at Lake Balaton. The fractions were (1) exchangeable and bound to carbonate, (2) bound to Fe/Mn oxide, (3) bound to organic matter and sulfide, and (4) acid soluble. These fractions have the advantage of providing better insight into the mechanism of association of metals with mineralogical phases of the sediments. Samples were taken in three seasons and the average concentration of the elements was calculated. Based on the results determined at 15 sampling points along the lake, it seems that Lake Balaton has not yet been polluted. Concentrations of species were below the Hungarian standard levels set for soils, and most of the elements were found in the acid-soluble fraction, indicating stable compounds in sediments. There were no significant changes in the individual seasonal concentrations of elements in this short monitoring period.