ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
membrane filters
;
filtration
;
filtration artifacts
;
dissolved
;
major elements
;
trace elements
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract The almost universally accepted operational definition for dissolved constituents is based on processing The almost universally accepted operational definition for dissolved constituents is based on processing whole-water samples through a 0.45-μm membrane filter. Results from field and laboratory experiments indicate that a number of factors associated with filtration, other than just pore size (e.g., diameter, manufacturer, volume of sample processed, amount of suspended sediment in the sample), can produce substantial variations in the ‘disolved’ concentrations of such elements as Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, and Ni. These variations result from the inclusion/exclusion of colloidally-associated trace elements. Thus, 'dissolved' concentrations quantitated by analyzing filtrates generated by processing whole-water through similar pore-sized membrane filters may not be equal/comparable. As such, simple filtration through a 0.45-μm membrane filter may no longer represent an acceptable operational definition for dissolved chemical constituents. This conclusion may have important implications for environmental studies and regulatory agencies.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00619288
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