Voltammetric determination of metal speciation in natural waters

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Project objective

Metal speciation in natural waters. Metal ions in natural waters tend to be complexed by organic matter, the metal complexing capacity". This speciation determines the availability as well as the toxicity, to microorganisms . The metal speciation is determined by electro analytical methods. Both anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) will be used: ASV for lead, and a combination of ligand competition with CSV for cobalt, iron, copper and zinc in fresh waters, estuaries and ocean waters. The speciation data will be used to calculate equivalent ligand concentrations and conditional stability constants with the aim of calculating the speciation of metals in environmental impact studies and studies of uptake of metals by microorganisms (algae) as well as macroorganisms (fish and plants). The Marine Electrochemistry Group at Liverpool has excellent facilities for electro analysis, using conventional commercially available as well as homemade instrumentation for on-line metal detection. During the training the PhD student will be become proficient in the use of the most recent voltammetric techniques to detect metals and their speciation at picomolar levels in natural waters (clean lab facilities will be used). The PhD student will learn to interpret the speciation data using computer models (spreadsheets; data linearization as well as curve fitting) in terms of stability constants and ligand concentrations. The methods will be applied to natural waters by participation in on-going studies of metal speciation in waters from remote mountain lakes, and estuarine, coastal and oceanic origin. The PhD students are encouraged to fit the training year in their ongoing research project either by bringing samples to Liverpool, or to adapt the method to their particular project. It is the strong intention to produce data suitable for publication, and write a draft manuscript, within the training period."

Original text from CORDIS.

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