Comparison of total and aqua regia extractability of heavy metals in sewage sludge: The case study of a certified reference material

Anna, Santoro; Held, Andrea; Linsinger, Thomas P. J.; Perez, A.; Ricci, Marina

doi:10.1016/j.trac.2017.01.010

Cited by 75 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…Variation between the methods is considered negligible compared to the variation between the XRF and the analytical results. Methods 1 [39] and 2 [40] measure real total elemental concentrations, whereas the aqua regia digestion used in method 3 [41] does not dissolve silicates, iron oxides and associated metals [42]. As such, the complete removal of some elements from the soil exchange complex is prohibited.…”

Section: Laboratory Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Study of Three Different Portable XRF Scanners to Assess the Soil Geochemistry of An Extensive Sample Dataset

et al. 2019

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The assessment of soil elemental concentrations nowadays mainly occurs through conventional laboratory analyses. However, proximal soil sensing (PSS) techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry are proving to reduce analysis time and costs, and thus offer a worthy alternative to laboratory analyses. Moreover, XRF scanners are non-destructive and can be directly employed in the field. Although the use of XRF for soil elemental analysis is becoming widely accepted, most previous studies were limited to one scanner, a few samples, a few elements, or a non-diverse sample database. Here, an extensive and diverse soil database was used to compare the performance of three different XRF scanners with results obtained through conventional laboratory analyses. Scanners were used in benchtop mode with built-in soil calibrations to measure the concentrations of 15 elements. Although in many samples Cu, S, P, and Mg concentrations were up to 6, 12, 13, and 5 times overestimated by XRF, and empirical recalibration is recommended, all scanners produced acceptable results, even for lighter elements. Unexpectedly, XRF performance did not seem to depend on soil characteristics such as CaCO3 content. While performances will be worse when expanding to the field, our results show that XRF can easily be applied by non-experts to measure soil elemental concentrations reliably in widely different environments.

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Section: Laboratory Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Study of Three Different Portable XRF Scanners to Assess the Soil Geochemistry of An Extensive Sample Dataset

et al. 2019

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“…A subsample of sediments (about 10 g) was sent to a commercial laboratory where the total metal content was determined after extraction with aqua regia and using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The amount of metal extracted using aqua regia is, in most cases, comparable (in the case of Zn and Pb) or slightly less (in the case of Cd) than the amount extracted by the hydrogen fluoride (HF) acid mixture [26,27]. Therefore, although comparisons of the metal content obtained by these two methods can be made, a distinction is in order, usually by denominating the metal extracted by aqua regia as the pseudo-total metal content.…”

Section: Sampling and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobility of Metals in Sediments Contaminated with Historical Mining Wastes: Example from the Tri-State Mining District, USA

et al. 2019

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The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma was a world class zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) producer. Mining ceased in the 1950s, leaving behind a large amount of mine wastes. Although much of the affected areas have been remediated, stream sediments may still contain toxic levels of these metals. The mobility of the metals was determined for sediment samples from Turkey Creek, Missouri. The median values of the metal content were 2700 mg/kg Zn, 161 mg/kg Pb, and 10.8 mg/kg Cd. These concentrations marginally surpass the sediment quality guidelines that differentiate between toxic and nontoxic conditions. Mobility was determined by sequential extraction of two phases—bioavailable and Fe-oxides. The fraction of the metal available to biota was 7.7% for Zn, 5.0% for Cd, and 0.4% for Pb, whereas the Fe-oxide fraction retained 25% of Zn, 21% of Pb, and 35% Cd. These values roughly agree with the values reported for other areas of the TSMD. Fractionation provides an estimate of the amount of metal available at the present conditions and gives the amount of metal available should the pH and/or Eh vary. The methodology puts an emphasis on ecosystem health and can be applied to other areas where Zn–Pb concentrations in soils and sediments are a concern.

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“…For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human health risk assessment (HHRA) methodology is based on that approach. One has to have in mind that the total content of elements refers to concentrations of analyzed elements determined after a complete dissolution of the solid matrix with a combination of strong acids i.e., hydrofluoric acid (HF) as well as alkali solutions [18]. However, due to safety precautions HF procedure is not recommended for routine analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an alternative to this procedure is pseudo-total digestion by aqua regia [19]. Although commonly used, aqua regia is often rated as a less suitable solvent for the estimation of the total amount of heavy metals in an environmental matrix [18]. Nevertheless, even high total or pseudototal concentrations of heavy metals do not always pose a threat to the environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Fractions of the Agricultural Soils of Southern Poland and the Assessment of the Potentially Harmful Element Mobility

et al. 2019

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Surface samples (0–25 cm each) of agricultural soils were investigated in five Regions (voivodeships) of southern Poland. The mean Potentially Harmful Element (PHE) pseudototal content ranges were as follows (mg/kg): As 5.19–10.9, Cd 0.34–1.56, Co 1.92–6.70, Cr 9.05–25.7, Cu 8.74–69.4, Hg 0.001–0.08, Ni 3.93–19.9, Pb 20.3–183, Sb 0.80–1.42, Tl 0.04–0.17, and Zn 61.3–422. The PHE availability depended on pH, the organic carbon (Corg) content, and the pseudototal PHE content in soils. Exchangeable and acid soluble PHE contents (BCRF1) determined in the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) three-step sequential extraction procedure decreased in this order: Cd > Zn > Co > Ni = Sb > Cu > Tl > As > Cr = Pb. Actually available PHE contents in pore water (0.01 mol/dm3 CaCl2) ranged as follows: Cd 0.81–17%, Cr 0–0.25%, Cu 0.01–2.31%, Ni 0.16–2%, Pb 0.2–0.49%, and Zn 0.25–2.12%. The potential soluble total content of PHEs in pore water (0.05 mol/dm3 Na2EDTA) ranged as follows: Cd 27–91%, Cr 0.7–7.1%, Cu 6.7–98%, Ni 3.6–41%, Pb 15–41%, and Zn 3–34%. The mobility factor (MF) values indicated Cd (31.6%) and Zn (21.0%) as the most mobile elements in soil. Other PHEs followed the order of Co > Ni > Tl > As > Sb > Cu > Cr > Pb, with the MF values <10%. The risk assessment code (RAC) values revealed a very high ecological risk of Cd and Zn in the Podkarpackie Region and a high ecological risk of Cd in the Regions of Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, and Podkarpackie, and the same of Zn in the Opolskie and Śląskie. The modified risk assessment code (mRAC) index pointed a very high potential of adverse effects in soils in the Podkarpackie and a medium potential in the Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, and Świętokrzyskie. The potential adverse effect risk, described by the individual contamination factor (ICF) factor, was the following in the Regions, in the decreasing order: Cd > Pb > Sb > Zn > Co > Cu > Ni > Tl > As > Cr, and the same as described by the global contamination factor (GCF) values: Opolskie > Podkarpackie > Świętokrzyskie > Śląskie > Małopolskie.

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Comparison of total and aqua regia extractability of heavy metals in sewage sludge: The case study of a certified reference material

Cited by 75 publications

References 25 publications

A Comprehensive Study of Three Different Portable XRF Scanners to Assess the Soil Geochemistry of An Extensive Sample Dataset

A Comprehensive Study of Three Different Portable XRF Scanners to Assess the Soil Geochemistry of An Extensive Sample Dataset

Mobility of Metals in Sediments Contaminated with Historical Mining Wastes: Example from the Tri-State Mining District, USA

Geochemical Fractions of the Agricultural Soils of Southern Poland and the Assessment of the Potentially Harmful Element Mobility

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