Speciation of major, minor and trace elements in River Nile mud

Nile mud sediment samples were collected from the bottom of the main stream of the River Nile at Aswan (Governorate) and ten other sites along the river. The samples were analysed using various acid extraction systems. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for multi–element determination, and chromic acid was used for organic matter determination. Values of 0.08–0.89%, 0.4–8.5 ppm, 0.6–76 ppm, 0.4–69 ppm, 1.2–43.5 ppm, 0.8–124500 ppm, 12.5–800 ppm, 1.8–123.5 ppm, 2.4–572.5 ppm and 2–866 ppm were found for organic (matter) carbon, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively.