INVESTIGADORES
CANDAL Roberto Jorge
artículos
Título:
Biocatalysed acidification and metal leaching processes in sediments of polluted urban streams
Autor/es:
PORZIONATO NATALIA; CANDAL ROBERTO; CURUTCHET GUSTAVO
Revista:
International Journal of Environment and helth
Editorial:
Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Referencias:
Año: 2014 vol. 17 p. 3 - 14
ISSN:
1743-4955
Resumen:
Sediments of fluvial streams are a sink for pollutants such as heavy
metals and organic recalcitrant compounds. In anoxic conditions, sulphide
generation and alkalinisation cause precipitation of heavy metals. The redox
potential of the system could change to higher values, mainly owing to oxygen
exposition generated by anthropogenic disturbances of the sediment such as
dredging operations. Knowledge about the mechanisms involved is
fundamental to assess the risk of acid generation and rise in heavy metals
bioavailability. In this paper, the characterisation and assessment of
acidification risk of sediments of a contaminated stream near Buenos Aires was
carried out by static and kinetic assays. Speciation of heavy metals was
determined after metal sequential extraction procedure. Also, re-suspension of
sediments assay in batch mode, with and without Acidithiobacillus
ferrooxidans inoculum, was carried out to assess the chemical changes that
occur at oxygen exposure, verifying the acidification and heavy metal release
processes.