Identification of particulate heavy metal pollution sources in urban river sediment using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS)

Cindy R. Priadi (1) , Sophie Ayrault (1) , Eric Robin (1) , Philippe Bonte (1)

1 LSCE - Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to develop a protocol for the identification of trace element carriers in the Seine River. Various Pb, Ni, Zn, V, Cr, and Cu bearing phases were identified on the sediment of the Seine River. Lead and nickel were found to be preferentially bound with iron sulfide particles. This phase is known to be a significant trace metal carrier in a reducing environment. Association of vanadium and calcium was identified which would be a product of road surface runoff. Zinc was also found associated with barite, possibly indicating an urban-related contamination source. Microscopic particle analysis shows to be a powerful tool in the characterization of their different sources and their eventual mobility in the environment.

Keywords: Heavy metal carrier; binding phase; Seine; sediment; Scanning electron microscopy; Energy Dispersive spectrometer; source tracing

Domains: Environment and Society

Cindy R. Priadi, Sophie Ayrault, Eric Robin, Philippe Bonte. Identification of particulate heavy metal pollution sources in urban river sediment using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). 8th World Wide Workshop for Young Environmental Scientists WWW-YES-2008: Urban waters: resource or risks?, May 2008, Créteil, France. ⟨hal-00593641⟩