Distribution and chemical fractionation of some heavy metals in bottom sediments of Lake Nasser

Abstract

Distribution and phase association of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni,Pb, Zn and organic matter in Nile sediments taken from LakeNasser (Aswan, Egypt) were investigated. The sediment sampleswere subjected to selective chemical extraction proceduresdesigned to fractionate the particulate heavy metals into sixfractions: (A) ammonium acetate-extractable metals; (B) sodiumacetate-extractable metals; (C) acid oxalate-extractablemetals; (D) hydroxylamine HCl-extractable metals; (E) aquaregia-extractable metals and (F) total metals (HF/HCl/HNO3destruction). Exchangeable metals which can be extracted byammonium acetate solution are generally considered readilybioavailable as they are weakly bound and may equilibrateeasily with the aqueous phases. In the present study very smallconcentrations of all heavy metals considered were found inthis phase. Between this phase and the metal phases which arenot bioavailable (those exist in highly resistant phases) thereexist several geochemical phases (fractions B, C & D) that maypotentially release their associated metals under changingenvironmental conditions, such as pH and redox potential in thewater sediment interface.