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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Chemical Translator, Dissolved Metal, Delaware River