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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
A Flow-through Exposure System for Evaluating Suspended Sediments Effects on Aquatic Life
Published on: January 9, 2017
Thermal analysis in the evaluation of sediment pollution
M R Rodríguez-Barroso1, M Ramírez-del Solar, E Blanco
1Dpto.de Ingeniería Química, Tecnología de los Alimentos y Tecnologías del Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus Río San Pedro s/n, Universidad de Cádiz, Apartado 40, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Abstract:
Characterization of organic matter in four sediments in the infuence area of wastewater discharges was carried out by both chemical and thermal analysis in order to assess their pollution level. Oxidisable organic carbon and organic matter were calculated by the standard methodology in laboratory. Thermogravimetry (TG), between 50 and 900 degrees C, was simultaneously performed in oxidizing conditions on ground sediments samples after three different pretreatments. Linear regression adjust of thermal analysis results versus chemical parameters provides the better Pearson's coefficients, leading to the best coefficients for weight loss in 250-400 degree C temperature range versus oxidisable organic carbon and organic matter at 360 degrees C, respectively. These results demonstrated the utility of thermoanalysis technique for the evaluation of the organic matter content of fresh sediments.
