Environmental study of the marinas Part II. A study on the removal of metals from the marinas sediments

Abstract

Batch extraction experiments with hydrochloric acid solutions of various concentrations and with different acid‐sediment contact times were carried out on contaminated with heavy metals: sediments from the marinas in the near Athens area. Also, extraction experiments were performed to determine the water soluble fraction of the heavy metal load in the sediments under study. For most metals the extraction capacity of the 30% v/v HCL solution, when in contact with the sediment for 15 min, was found to be most satisfactory. The order of decreasing extraction follows the series: Cd> Ni> Mn> Fe> Cu> Pb> Zn> Cr The metal quantities extracted generally show fluctuations with both acid concentrations and time of equilibration and this phenomenon is more intense for the metals lead, nickel, iron, cadmium. The equilibration of sediment with seawater and distilled water does not seem to affect much the metals present in the solid phase, indicating a very poor metal extraction.