Abstract
Metal sulphides may reduce the toxicity of heavymetal contaminated sediments (Di Toro et al., 1992), but the importance of metal sulphides for reducing impacts of heavy metals in soils is poorly understood. Seasonal variations in hydrology can cause soils to undergo redox changes that are conducive for oxidation of metal sulphides. We used synchrotron extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, to characterize the local molecular bonding of heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in several poorly-a (2) zinc sulphide was dominant and lead sulphide was absent in a contaminated groundwater aquifer zone underlying a poorly-drained soil in the Piedmont region of North Carol ina , U.S. (Hesterberg et al., 1997); and (3) copper-, zinc-, and lead-sulphides were found in deeper zones (47-101 cm) of a contaminated soil in the lower coastal plain of North Carolina (Sayers et al., 1998). These findings indicate that authigenic metal sulphides form in contaminated soil exposed to reducing conditions. In this study, we completed laboratory soil column experiments with supporting EXAFS analysis to investigate the stability of metal sulphides under changing redox and pH conditions.
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