Copper and zinc distribution coefficients for sandy aquifer materials

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2000-02, Vol.34 (3), p.709-712
• Main Authors: Christensen, Thomas H, Astrup, Thomas, Boddum, Jens K, Østergaard Hansen, Birgitte, Redemann, Sabine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; aquifers; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; groundwater; Groundwaters; heavy metals; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; mobility; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; solutes; sorption; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00216-X

Distribution coefficients ( K d) were measured for copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in laboratory batch experiments for 17 sandy aquifer materials at environmentally relevant solute concentrations (Cu: 5–300 μg/l, Zn: 20–3100 μg/l). The K d values ranged two to three orders of magnitude (Cu: 70–10,800 l/kg; Zn: 6–22,800 l/kg) and correlating them to the characteristics of the aquifer material (particle size distribution, organic C content, surface area, pH) revealed good correlation with pH in the range 5.3–8.9 (Cu: r 2=0.72; Zn: r 2=0.94). Including any other of the measured aquifer characteristics improved the correlation only a few percent. The results indicate that the mobility of Cu and Zn in sandy aquifers, as reflected in the measured K d values, is very restricted at pH values above 6, since the relative migration velocity is less than 1%. However, at lower pH values, Zn seems to become mobile in sandy aquifers.