Determination of heavy metals and their speciation in waters and bottom sediments of water reservoirs using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in combination with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and autoclave sample preparation essentially improved performance characteristics of the determination of heavy metals and simplified analytical procedures for determining their speciation. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry can give information about the concentrations of a wide range of elements in water and bottom deposits at a level of MPC and, thus, is useful for revealing sources of pollution of water reservoirs. More sensitive electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used for determining background concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Mo, and As and assessing the speciation of Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn in waters and bottom sediments. Based on the results of analyses of surface, bottom, and void waters; bottom sediments and their step-by-step extracts; and KMC and DEAE cellulose adsorbents containing charge-separated heavy metals, the ecological status of Kuibyshev, Ivan’kovo, and Rybinsk water reservoirs was assessed.