title: Fractionation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Taihu Lake, East China.
abstract: The BCR (European Communities Bureau of Reference) three-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to fractionate heavy metals in the sediment of Taihu Lake. For the determination of total metal concentration of the sediments, sample digestion was achieved by using HF/H2O2/HNO3 (2/1/1) acid mixture in a microwave-irradiated closed vessel system. The concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu and Pb in various extracts solutions were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results obtained from the BCR three-step sequential extraction indicated relatively high mobility of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni in the sediments while Cd and Cr were poorly mobile. Enrichment of heavy metals was found in the sediments collected in the northern parts of Taihu Lake. In the sediments collected in the southern and western sides of the Lake, heavy metal concentrations were relatively low. The relationship between total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals concentrations in the sediments is discussed.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014873:Water Pollutants; D002244:Carbon