Interactions of Pb(II) with particles of a polluted river Original Research Article

Pb(II) interactions with the surface of suspended matter from a polluted river was studied using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique. Three sampling sites were selected and studies have been done with samples collected in different times of the year (winter, autumn and summer). The values have been compared with those obtained in spring in the same conditions [Sci. Total Environ. 151 (1994) 101]. Particles were separated by centrifugation and suspensions of the freeze-dried particles were titrated with Pb(II), being measured the labile metal fraction by DPASV. For comparison, suspensions of river water without any separation have also been titrated. Results show that surface metal complexes are inert, within the time scale of the analytical technique and desorbed organics from surfaces, form labile Pb(II) complexes in solution. For each sample it was determined the capacity for Pb complexation of particles and desorbed organics and the differential function has been estimated. Despite the heterogeneity of ligands, the systems interpreted in a discontinuous way, present one or two kinds of dominant ligands with Pb affinity.