SOLUBLE AND PARTICULATE METALS IN THE ADIGE RIVER

Abstract The concentrations of 10 metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were monitored over a 1-year period in the waters of the lower Adige River. Concentrations in the dissolved and particulate phases were measured, thus constructing a database on metal variability. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb in these water samples are too low to be directlydetermined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry or (graphite furnace atomic absorp-tion spectrometry (GFAAS). In this work Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determinedby inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or GFAAS after on-line pre-concentration and following solvent elution with a flow injection analysis system (FIAS).The eluted samples were also dried in a vacuum container and restored to a small volumewith concentrated HNO 3 and Milli-Q water for analysis by ICP-MS or GFAAS. The con-centrations of soluble Cd, Fe, and Mn and particulate As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn are well correlated with seasonal variability ( P P