Three digestion methods to determine concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Fe in mangrove sediments from Sai Keng, Chek Keng, and Sha Tau Kok, Hong Kong

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 62; no. 6; pp. 708 - 716
• Main Authors: Tam, N.F.Y, Yao, M.W.Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01.06.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Applied sciences; cadmium; chromium; Chromium - analysis; contaminants; copper; Copper - analysis; Ecosystem; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic Sediments - analysis; heavy metals; Hong Kong; Hydrochloric Acid - chemistry; iron; Iron - analysis; lead; Lead - analysis; Linear Models; manganese; Manganese - analysis; mangroves; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Microwaves; nickel; Nickel - analysis; Nitric Acid - chemistry; Nitric Oxide - chemistry; Pollution; sediments; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Spectrophotometry, Atomic - methods; zinc; Zinc - analysis; China; Asia; Hong Kong; ISEW, China, People's Rep., Hong Kong; Trace analysis; Cadmium; Marine sediments; Chemical analysis; Microwave; Transition metal; Iron; Soil pollution; Zinc; Heavy metal; Sample preparation; Mangrove; Chromium; Lead; Nickel; Copper; Quantitative analysis; Manganese; Atomic absorption spectrometry
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900931

Sediment samples were collected from three mangrove sites at different locations in Hong Kong, and concentrations of copper, zinc, cadmium, nickel, lead, chromium, manganese, and iron were determined using three different digestion methods: aqua-regia heating, block, and microwave heating. Two of the sites, Sai Keng and Chek Keng, are located on the eastern side and are popular with visitors, while the third, Sha Tau Kok, is located on the northern side near a newly developed industrialized city. Results showed that the precision of the three digestion methods was comparable, with standard deviation values small for all metals except Pb and Cd. Sediments from Sha Tau Kok had significantly higher Cu concentrations, while sediments from Chek Keng had lower concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Cr, but higher concentrations of Mn and Fe.