Heavy Metals (Cu and Zn) Release Kinetics in a Sediment Sample from the Inlet of Baihua Lake, China

Release kinetics of two selected heavy metals (Cu and Zn) in a sediment sample collected from the inlet of Baihua Lake was determined. The results show that the double-constant equation was considered as the best-fit equations describing the relationship of Cu and Zn release and time in the sediment from the inlet of the lake (R-2 = 0.9759, 0.9226, P<0.01). The effects of temperature, acidity, salinity, and the water/soil ratio on the releasing of heavy metals in sediment sample were also investigated. The heavy metals release would increase as the temperature increased. A low pH value could promote the heavy metals release. The heavy metals in the sediment tended to be released under a relatively high salinity condition. The amount of the heavy metals released from the sediment decreased with the increase of the water/soil ratio.