Abstract
The management of sediments from stormwater infiltration basins is nowadays a key issue for local authorities to ensure long-term performance. Speciation of pollutants is particularly required in view of reuse of these materials. If fractionation of trace metals in sediments is relatively well described, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) speciation was only studied using particle size distribution. Therefore, this study aims at the characterization of the PAHs-bearing fractions in sediments. Three sediments with various physicochemical properties were sampled in the west and north of France to characterize the distribution of PAHs among organic and inorganic components. Respective organic and inorganic matrixes were obtained by alkaline extraction and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) fractionation procedure. The nature of the solid fractions was assessed through microanalyses: infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray spectroscopy. Bulk sediments and extracted fractions were analyzed for organic matter parameters: elemental analysis (C, N, and H), total organic matter, total organic carbon, hydrocarbons (C10–C40), and PAHs. The characterization of bulk sediments highlighted that they were mainly composed of single particles, originating from the geological background, and aggregates (10 to 300 μm) composed of minerals and large organic matter content. The C/N ratio and PAH ratios were shown to be helpful for the determination of the natural or anthropogenic origin of organic matter or to evaluate additional contribution of industrial activities. The fractionation results underlined the role of the aggregates on the distribution of PAHs. Humin fraction and bound-humic acids were mainly composed of aggregates (10 to 150 μm) and accounted for 60 to 70 % of sample mass. The PAHs are mainly sequestrated in these fractions. Only up to 1 % of PAHs are adsorbed on the mineral fraction. Both alkaline extraction and MIBK procedure demonstrated that PAH residues were readily sequestrated in humin and bound-humic acids fractions and that fulvic acids, humic acids, and mineral fractions contained poor concentrations of PAHs. Microanalyses underlined the high level of aggregation of particles in sediments and their mixed inorganic and organic nature. In case of stormwater sediments, the location of PAHs in highly organic aggregates is consistent with their sources, being both oil products and debris from vehicles and road.
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