Role of particle sorption properties in the behavior and speciation of trace metals in macrotidal estuaries: The cadmium example

Type Article
Date 2006
Language English
Author(s) Gonzalez Jean-Louis1, Thouvenin Benedicte1, Dange Catherine1, Chiffoleau Jean-Francois1, Boutier Bernard1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Biogeochim & Ecotoxicol Dept, F-83507 La Seyne Sur Mer, France
Source The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry (1433-6839) (Springer Berlin / Heidelberg), 2006 , Vol. 5H , P. 265-301
DOI 10.1007/b89479
Keyword(s) Turbidity maximum, Speciation, Sorption, Particles, Modeling, Macrotidal estuaries, Cadmium
Abstract The role of particles in the fate and speciation of trace metals in macrotidal estuaries was studied using a surface complexation model (MOCO). Cadmium was selected as the target metal contaminant due to its reactivity in estuaries: cadmium behavior is mainly controlled by heterogeneous processes (sorption/desorption) related to salinity and suspended matter gradients.

Various scenarios of suspended matter distribution according to salinity were simulated. The impact of surface properties (specific surface area, density of surface sites, acido-basic properties, and complexation constant) was evaluated using data collected on particles from the Gironde, Loire, and Seine estuaries.

Our results show that particle surface properties, evaluated on the basis of various parameters, are instrumental in "non-conservative" contaminant speciation in the estuarine environment. Their evaluation enables us to understand and simulate, to a large extent, the fate of "Cd-type" contaminants (whose behavior is controlled by competition between sorption and desorption processes). The natural variations of these properties can be responsible for significant modifications of the Cd speciation in the macrotidal estuaries where salinity and SM gradients are very strong.
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Gonzalez Jean-Louis, Thouvenin Benedicte, Dange Catherine, Chiffoleau Jean-Francois, Boutier Bernard (2006). Role of particle sorption properties in the behavior and speciation of trace metals in macrotidal estuaries: The cadmium example. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 5H, 265-301. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1007/b89479 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2005/