The effects of different drying methods for marine sediment upon moisture content and metal determination

The effects of oven-drying, air-drying and freeze-drying methods, utilized in the preparation of marine sediment, upon the determined moisture content and upon the analytical results for trace metal content are reported. An investigation was also carried out concerning the use of organic solvents in providing a rapid drying method for marine sediment. The results indicated that both freeze-drying and drying at 100 or 80°C gave similar values for sediment moisture content. The use of acetone-rinsing gave slightly lower values, but they were higher than those obtained by air-drying or ethanol-rinsing. Metal content analyses followed a similar rank order.