Comparison of Two Sequential Extraction Procedures for Trace Metal Partitioning in Sediments

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Abstract
Two sequential extraction schemes (a modified Tessier procedure with five steps and a three steps protocol designed by BCR) are applied to four sediment samples with different heavy metal contents. The results obtained for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn partitioning show that the metal distribution obtained with both procedures are significantly different. With the second procedure amounts of all the heavy metals are extracted with the oxidizing reagent (third fraction) whereas with the first one the non residual metals are distributed among the second, third and fourth fractions (acetic acid-acetate buffer (pH=5), reducing and oxidizing reagents respectively). The residual fraction obtained applying the three steps procedure is in general higher than that obtained using the five steps procedure, except for cadmium.