Distribution of Cu fraction in sediments using Suaeda heteroptera - Nereis succinea combination: A greenhouse study

Abstract

A knowledge of the total amount of heavy metals is not enough to assess the environmental impact of polluted soils. Therefore, the determination of Cu fractions in sediment is important to evaluate its behavior in the environment and its mobilization capacity. The distribution of Cu (II) fractions in the sediment was studied in a laboratory simulation experiment. The results indicated that the distribution of Cu fractions was related to the concentration of Cu in sediments. In the Suaeda heteroptera group, the content of exchangeable and carbonate-bound were reducing, while the Fe-Mn oxide- and organic matter-bound were basically raising. In the Nereis succinea group, the content of Fe-Mn oxide- and organic matter-bound were from raising to reducing, and the residual was basically reducing with the increasing Cu concentrations. Generally speaking, the existence of N. succinea could enhance the uptake of Cu in the coastal sediment planted with S. heteroptera. When S. heteroptera and N. succinea in combination, effect of S. heteroptera and N. succinea on Cu fractions in sediments was significantly higher than the two working singly.

Keywords:

• Suaeda heteroptera
• Nereis succinea
• sediment
• heavy metal

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mr. Changfa Liu and Yibing Zhou (Dalian Ocean University, China) for helpful discussions and scientific support.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Marine Public Welfare Research Project (Nos. 201305002 and 201305043), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41306138), the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning (No. 2015020616), the Wetland Degradation and Ecological Restoration Program of Panjin Pink Beach (PHL-XZ-2017013-002), the Project of Marine Ecological Restoration Technology Research to the Penglai 19-3 Oil Spill Accident (No. 19-3YJ09) and the Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University (LNET) (LR2013035).