This title appears in the Scientific Report :
2014
Fine colloidal and nanoparticulate P, Fe, Al and C distribution in stream water of a German mountainous forest catchment
Fine colloidal and nanoparticulate P, Fe, Al and C distribution in stream water of a German mountainous forest catchment
Natural fine colloids and nanoparticles have the potential to encapsulate and bind nutrients. Their size range and composition is therefore relevant to understand the transport of essential nutrients like phosphorus in an aquatic ecosystem. The aim of the study was to characterize fine colloidal and...
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Personal Name(s): | Gottselig, Nina (Corresponding Author) |
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Bol, Roland / Nischwitz, Volker / Vereecken, Harry / Klumpp, Erwin | |
Contributing Institute: |
Analytik; ZEA-3 Agrosphäre; IBG-3 |
Published in: | 2014 |
Imprint: |
2014
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Conference: | International Workshop InterNano, Nanoparticles in Soils and Waters: Fate, Transport and Effects, Landau in der Pfalz (Germany), 2014-03-11 - 2014-03-13 |
Document Type: |
Conference Presentation |
Research Program: |
Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction Modelling and Monitoring Terrestrial Systems: Methods and Technologies |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Natural fine colloids and nanoparticles have the potential to encapsulate and bind nutrients. Their size range and composition is therefore relevant to understand the transport of essential nutrients like phosphorus in an aquatic ecosystem. The aim of the study was to characterize fine colloidal and nanoparticulate bound phosphorus of distinct hydromorphological areas in stream water from a forested experimental test site in a small headwater catchment. Asymmetric Flow Field Flow Fractionation (AF4) is a frequently used method when aiming at a separation and characterization of colloids in aquatic systems. It combines a large separation range (about 1 nm to 1 µm) with the possibility to couple various detection devices online. The separation is performed without a stationary phase in an open channel which is subject to a force acting perpendicular to the solvent flow and thus driving the fractionation. The fractionation occurs on behalf of diameter and diffusion rate of the particles. AF4 coupled online to ICP-MS was applied for size resolved detection of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) in the fractions. Special focus was on P detection which is present at low concentrations (few µg/L) in many natural waters. Two distinct fractions (mean d~8 nm and ~150 nm) were detected and characterized. For the small size fraction, variations in P concentrations strongly correlated to the course of Al variations; in addition, high Fe presence in both fractions was accompanied by high P concentrations. The developed methodology enables for the first time to trace and conceptually define the inputs and source regions of fine colloidal and nanoparticulate fractions within a small river of a headwater catchment. |