Development Of A Protocol For A Chemical Translator From Total Recoverable Dissolved Metal In the Delaware River

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1996-05
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Abstract
This final report includes three major parts describing (1) sample collection and analysis, (2) analyses of field samples and mixing experiments, and (3) evaluation of metal release and development of the methodology for the translator. The first section describes sample collection, handling and chemical analyses together with QA/QC data. We used clean techniques from the beginning of sample collection to the completion of laboratory analyses. The second part summarizes total and dissolved copper and lead concentrations, pH, dissolved organic carbon, alkalinity and solids concentrations of the POTW effluents and Delaware River water samples. Mixing experiment results are also included in this section. Those mixing experiments were conducted at three pH levels (pH 6, ambient pH and pH 8). Mixing results indicate that copper shows conservative behavior at ambient solids concentrations. Removal of copper from the dissolved phase was observed at high solids concentration (larger than 200 mg/L). The removal process followed first order reaction kinetics. The last part of this report contains the assessment of metal release from POTW effluent particulates and the development of a chemical translator for the Delaware River. The ratio of dissolved to total recoverable metal concentrations were determined after mixing at ratios of 1:l and 1:2 of effluent to receiving water. Total suspended solids concentration in a mixture was calculated assuming conservative mixing. A linear regression equation was developed to describe a relationship between the ratio of dissolved to total recoverable metal and total suspended solids. Both NY/NJ harbor data for lead, and data collected in this study for copper, have been tested to validate the regression model. The model results for NYNJ harbor data indicate a better predictability than a translator developed by the EPA method. The developed chemical translator can be used to establish wasteload allocations for discharges to the Delaware River Estuary.
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Keywords
Chemical Translator, Dissolved Metal, Delaware River
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