Soluble/insoluble (dilute-HCl-extractable) fractionation of Cd, Pb and Cu in Antarctic snow and its relationship with metal fractionations in the aerosol

• Published in: E3S Web of Conferences
• Main Authors: Annibaldi A., Illuminati S., Truzzi C., Finale C., Scarponi G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: EDP Sciences 2013
• Subjects: Cd; Pb; Cu; Antarctic snow; soluble/insoluble fractionation; voltammetry; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Antarctic; Austral; Faraglione; Mario Zucchelli; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20130123006; https://doaj.org/article/df34314ac0934ea789831695e9f57958

A chemical fractionation methodology for determination of the (water) soluble and the insoluble (dilute-HCl-extractable) fractions of Cd, Pb and Cu in Antarctic snow was set-up and verified for the additivity of the two fractions detected. Molten samples were filtrated and the water-insoluble fraction was extracted by dilute ultrapure HCl (pH ~1.5). Metal determinations were carried out in the two fractions by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The total metal concentrations in samples collected in the 2000–2001 austral summer in a clean area (Faraglione Camp) in the neighbourhood of the Mario Zucchelli Italian Station were of the order of Cd 10-20 pg g−1, Pb 20–40 pg g−1, Cu 60–120 pg g−1 with an approximate equidistribution between soluble and insoluble fractions. These fractionations compare well (and show a quite consistent temporal trend) with those observed in the aerosol samples collected in the same area/period and confirm the close relationship between metal distributions in snow/ice and in the aerosol. At the station metal concentrations increase due to anthropic contribution and the distribution changes with Cd predominantly present in the soluble fraction (~80%), while Pb and Cu are more concentrated in the insoluble fraction, 70–80% and ~70%, respectively.