A simple, rapid and semi-automated method for the determination of inorganic, organic and total phosphorus in lake and river sediments is described. Total phosphorus is extracted from sediments with 1 N hydrochloric acid after

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4.0 N HNO3-0.7 N HCl, 0.5 N HCl, 1 N hydroxylamine hydrochloride-25% acetic acid and 0.05 N EDTA were investiagted as extractants of nondetrital heavy metals from the sediments of the Rideau River. A comparison of these partial extraction methods with a total extraction method, showed that the 4.0 N HNO3-0.7 N HCl attacks the silicate crystal lattice considerably. 1 N hydroxylamine hydrochloride-25% acetic acid was found to be unsuitable for copper extraction. Both of the other two methods were suitable for the simultaneous extraction of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, and Al from the organic adsorbed and precipitated phases of sediments. They both gave a measure of nondetrital heavy metals in sediments and are thus useful to environmental contamination studies.

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