Concentration and mobility of copper and zinc in the hypergenic zone of a highly urbanized area

Abstract

Common occurrence of copper and zinc in groundwater and their diverse mobility in the environment make these metals sensitive indicators of industrial and municipal pollution of freshwaters. An analysis of the collected data allowed for a description of the factors and processes that induce changes in the concentration of these metals in the soil, rock and groundwater. Sorption, ion exchange and oxidation-reduction processes, dissolution and precipitation of minerals, and reactions involving organic matter significantly affected the mobility of copper and zinc. The study employed hydrogeochemical methods to obtain comprehensive interpretative data. Its results showed that the variability of the composition of exchangeable cations was due to instability of chemical composition of precipitation. Different activities of Cu and Zn in the solution introduced into the rocks led to the establishment of new quasi-equilibrium states between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. At very low copper and zinc concentrations in groundwater, zinc was more easily retained in the solid phase, and it was more difficult to extract. In contrast, a laboratory static batch experiment utilizing high concentrations of the elements in the solutions showed their different behavior. The sorption of copper occurred more easily than the sorption of zinc, as evidenced by the study results and the calculated parameters of sorption maximum, binding constant, and degree of surface coverage of the solid phase by adsorbed copper and zinc according to a single Langmuir equation.

Analyzing the major ions and trace elements of groundwater wells in Kuala Langat, Selangor

“…The agricultural practices not significantly influenced by the zinc and copper concentration to the deterioration of groundwater quality. The concentration of zinc and copper generally low in groundwater which difficult to extract in soil and retained easily in the solid phase (Malecki et al, 2016). Besides, the copper shows lower concentration compare to iron and manganese in agricultural soils especially in Peninsular Malaysia due to the acidity of soil from the oxidation of iron as well as the high organic matter content and existence of clay minerals in soils (Jamil et al, 2014).…”

“…The presence of fertilizers, manures, and pesticides that occur from agricultural practices have the potential to accumulates in groundwater from the sedimentation and infiltrations into aquifers from the agricultural fields. The mobility of zinc and copper significantly influenced by the organic matter reactions, minerals precipitation, and dissolution, and oxidationreduction processes and ion exchange (Malecki et al, 2016). The sorption process of trace element such as zinc, copper, and aluminum occur by organic matter in the soil.…”

Vertical Migration of Copper and Zinc Ions in Soils Polluted by Electroplating Sludge

“…In several studies [ 16–21 ] the content of organic matter and soil pH was determined as key factors causing differences in the sorption—desorption of PTMs. For example, potassium humate is known to be an effective stabilizer of metals, although it has an insignificant effect on the reduction of Cu bioavailability.…”

“…According to the studies by Malecki et al. [ 21 ] the process of adsorption of Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ is associated with the forms of their presence in soil and is the result of the combined mechanisms of cation exchange and surface complexation in soil.…”