Heavy metal complexation by surfaces and humic acids: a brief discourse on assessment by acidimetric titration.

Abstract

In natural waters the form of occurrence of heavy metal ions needs to be known to understand the factors that control their concentrations, their reactivity and bioavailability. In natural samples, it is difficult to identify the species present and to distinguish between dissolved and particulate concentrations, because of the lack of sufficiently sensitive and specific analytical detectors. It is suggested that the voltammetric measurement of the labile metal ion concentration as a function of pH (from an acidimetric titration of a natural sample) may provide useful information on the pH-dependent distribution of soluble and particulate concentrations and on the stability of (surface and solute) complexes formed. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)