Role of estuarine natural flocculation process in removal of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn

Hassani, S.; Karbassi, A.R.; Ardestani, M.

doi:10.22034/gjesm.2017.03.02.007

Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2017.03.02.007

Abstract

The ﬂocculation of dissolved heavy metals is a process which has an important effect on decreasing the concentration of the colloidal elements during estuarine mixing of river water and sea or ocean water. During this important process, a large amount of colloidal elements change into particles in the form of flock and the dissolved loads decline. This study is performed to evaluate the mechanism of self-purification of heavy metals in Sardabroud's estuary. For this purpose, the effect of salinity (varying from 1 to 8.5‰) on the removal efficiency of colloidal metals (copper, zinc, lead, nickel and magnesium) by flocculation process during mixing of Sardabroud River water and the Caspian Sea water was explored. The flocculation rate of Ni (25%) > Zn (18.59%) > Cu (16.67%) > Mn(5.83%) > Pb(4.86%) indicates that lead and manganese have relatively conservative behavior but nickel, zinc and copper have non-conservative behavior during Sardabroud River’s estuarine mixing. The highest removal efficiencies were obtained between salinities of 1 to 2.5%. Due to flocculation process, annual discharge of dissolved zinc, copper, lead, manganese and nickel release into the Caspian Sea via Sardabroud River would reduce from 44.30 to 36.06 ton/yr, 3.41 to 2.84 ton/yr, 10.22 to 9.7 ton/yr, 8.52 to 7.8 ton/yr and 3.41 to 2.56 ton/yr, respectively. Statistical analysis shows that the flocculation rate of Nickel is highly controlled by redox potential and dissolved oxygen. Moreover, it is found that total dissolved solid, salinity, electrical conductivity and potential of hydrogen do not have a significant influence in flocculation of studied metals.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

The flocculation process provided a valuable nutrient resource for aquatic organisms by transforming dissolved pollutant metals into micro-nutrients.
The pollution loads which entered to the Caspian Sea from river were decreased under flocculation process.
The Sardabroud estuary redox potential and dissolved oxygen were two main factors which controlled removal efficiency of Ni via flocculation process.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Marine and coastal environmental pollution and management

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Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management

Role of estuarine natural flocculation process in removal of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn

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Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 10
April 2017
Pages 187-196

Role of estuarine natural flocculation process in removal of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn

References

References

Letters to Editor

Send comment about this article

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 10April 2017Pages 187-196

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 10
April 2017
Pages 187-196