Distribution of trace elements in particle size fractions for contaminated soils by a copper smelting from different zones of the Puchuncaví Valley (Chile)

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 111; pp. 513 - 521
• Main Authors: Parra, Sonnia, Bravo, Manuel A., Quiroz, Waldo, Moreno, Teresa, Karanasiou, Angeliki, Font, Oriol, Vidal, Víctor, Cereceda, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; arsenic; atomic absorption spectrometry; calcium; Calcium Compounds - analysis; calcium oxide; Chemistry; Chile; Copper; Copper - analysis; Emission analysis; emissions; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Inductively coupled plasma; lead; MELTING; Metals - analysis; mineral content; Oxides - analysis; Particle Size; PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE; Particulate Matter - analysis; particulates; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Principal component analysis; roasting; Samples; Size fractionation; SMELTING; Soil - chemistry; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil characterization; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil sampling; SOILS; Spectrometric and optical methods; Spectroscopy; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; sulfides; sulfur dioxide; Trace element; zinc; South America; Chile; America; Trace element; Size fractionation; Soil characterization; Principal component analysis; Particle size; Chemical analysis; Smelting; Atomic emission spectrometry; Soil pollution; Inductive coupling plasma spectrometry; Surface structure; Scanning electron microscopy; Fractionation; Property of soil; Metallurgical industry; Copper ore; Transition metal; Heavy metal; Statistical method; Foundry industry; Soils; Particle size distribution; Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry; Morphology; Chemometrics
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.03.127

•Fraction size characterization of contaminated soil from Puchuncavi Valley, Chile.•Mineralogical composition of fine fraction for the most contaminated soils.•The results suggest that smelter is the principal responsible for contamination of soils. Metal contents in soil samples are commonly used to evaluate contamination levels. However, the distribution of metals is dependent on particle size. We investigated the distribution of metals in various particle size fractions of the soil from four sites of the Puchuncaví Valley (Central Chile). The soil samples were segregated into size fractions ranging from 0.3 to 20μm and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of the statistical analysis of the total metal concentrations indicated that the soil samples from Greda and Maitenes, the sites nearest the industrial sources, are the most contaminated. For these sites, the size-fractionated samples containing higher concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, and Pb were found in the finer fractions, suggesting anthropogenic depositions from smelter facilities. In addition, a high Ca concentration was observed in the finer fractions, which could be attributed to the technological approaches used to reduce the SO2 emissions from the roasting process of copper sulfide. The mineral composition of fine particles permitted the identification of Tenorite and Calcium oxide, which are most likely associated with smelting activities, confirming emission of enriched particulate matter from the copper smelter.