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Electron Microprobe Analysis of Elements Associated with Zinc and Copper in an Oxidizing and an Anaerobic Soil Environment
Author(s) -
Lee F. Y.,
Kittrick J. A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800030016x
Subject(s) - electron microprobe , zinc , copper , microprobe , sulfur , metal , chemistry , oxidizing agent , sediment , soil water , environmental chemistry , mineralogy , analytical chemistry (journal) , inorganic chemistry , geology , soil science , paleontology , organic chemistry
A soil and a harbor sediment contaminated by heavy metals were examined with the electron microprobe to obtain direct evidence of elements associated with heavy metal phases in the samples. Approximately 12 × 10 3 particles were scanned in order to locate 30 that produced > 100 counts per second (cps) Zn or Cu X‐radiation. Sulfur was found to be significantly associated with Zn in the sediment (in ca. 83% of the particles). Most of the Cu‐containing particles in the soil (ca. 57%) were not associated with elements above atomic number 9. Sulfur (ca. 33%) and iron (ca. 27%), or both, were the most important associations with the remaining Cu‐containing particles. Zinc and copper appeared to be precipitated with the associated elements rather than being adsorbed on the particle surfaces. The results can be predicted from thermodynamic calculations combined with some reasonable assumptions. Compared to chemical extraction analysis, microprobe analysis is more accurate, but less precise for determining the chemical nature of Zn and Cu phases. It may be possible to similarly apply the microprobe to Zn and Cu phases in uncontaminated soils.