The effect of physicochemical properties of bottom sediments on nitrogen and phosphorus sorption

Abstract

River and reservoir bottom sediments are characterized by their physical and chemical properties, which affect the quality of water and deposited sediments in reservoirs. The grain composition of sediments is their fundamental property that determines the detachment, transport and sedimentation of sediments. In addition to understanding the dynamics of transport and distribution of particles in the watershed, the granularity is closely related to the mineral and chemical composition of the sediment and plays an important role in terms of its ability to bind contaminants. Other important property of sediment includes the specific surface area, which determines the nature of sediment surface reactions and influences ecosystem level, biological processes.This study investigates sediment properties, including physical properties such as grain-size distribution, specific surface area, organic matter and chemical composition, and their reflections on nitrogen and phosphorus adsorption by the sediments deposited in the small water reservoir. The results clearly indicate the dependence of the content of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in reservoir sediments on their grain size and specific surface area.