Diffusive gradients in thin films technique equipped with a mixed binding gel for simultaneous measurements of dissolved reactive phosphorus and dissolved iron

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Sep 17;47(18):10477-84. doi: 10.1021/es401822x. Epub 2013 Aug 27.

Abstract

Developing a technique to track the release of phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) simultaneously in sediments would be very useful in deepening our understanding of the internal loading process of P coupled with Fe cycling in aquatic systems. In this study, a new technique was established to measure simultaneously the dissolved reactive P (DRP) and dissolved Fe primarily released from sediment solids based on the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) theory. A mixed binding gel (ZrO-Chelex gel) used for assembling DGT was developed for simultaneous uptake of DRP and dissolved Fe(II) using amorphous zirconium hydroxide (Zr-oxide) and Chelex-100 resin as binding agents. Simultaneous measurements of DRP and dissolved Fe(II) with the ZrO-Chelex DGT were validated in solution and were independent of solution pH and ionic strength in normal environments. The capacities of the ZrO-Chelex DGT for measurements of DRP and dissolved Fe(II) were 90 μg P cm(-2) and 75 μg Fe cm(-2), with the latter being greater than that (45 μg Fe cm(-2)) observed with the Chelex-100 resin DGT commonly used in DGT measurements of metals. Microcosm experiments further confirmed the feasibility of the ZrO-Chelex DGT for simultaneous measurement of P and Fe in sediments, with a higher concentration of Fe being measured due to this method's higher capacity compared with the Chelex-100 resin DGT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gels
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry
  • Iron / analysis*
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Phosphorus / analysis*
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Resins, Synthetic / chemistry*
  • Zirconium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Gels
  • Resins, Synthetic
  • Chelex 100
  • Phosphorus
  • Zirconium
  • Iron
  • zirconium oxide