Detailed Spectroscopic Studies in the Aquatic Environment Using Synchrotron Radiation

Abstract

The important role of metals and metalloids in the aquatic environment can be studied by means of Syn- chrotron Radiation (SR)-based X-ray spectroscopic techniques. In the present work, we have performed analyses of data sets (μ–XRF, μ–XANES and μ–EXAFS), for coastal sediments and marine precipitates, obtained at the ANKA Synchrotron Facility in Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, Germany). Prelim- inary results with regard to the distribution and speciation of toxic (Hg and As) and biocompatible (Fe) metals and metalloids are presented herein. It is therefore demonstrated that Fe is easily precipitated as FeIII oxyhydroxides, most likely related to As, as well as ferrihydrite-type FeIII hydrated oxyhydroxides, whereas Hg is rather accumulated in the form of methyl-containing compounds.