Mobility and Geochemical Patitioning of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, and Ni) in Sediments of an Urban River, Enugu Nigeria

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Published: 2025-04-01
Keywords:
Heavy metals, Sediments, Mobility, Pollution, Partitioning

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Edmund Okorie
Chemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Technology, Federal Polytechnic Idah P.M.B. 1037 Idah, Kogi State Nigeria.
Ugwuene Deborah Chizelum
Biochemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Technology, Federal Polytechnic Idah P.M.B. 1037 Idah, Kogi State Nigeria.

Abstract

The mobility of some selected heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni) in sediment of an urban river, Enugu Nigeria was carried out using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (FAAS) detection. The result of the speciation studies indicates that Pb was not detected in the Exchangeable fraction for Abakpa and Awkunanaw streams sediments. Cd was not detected in the Exchangeable, bound to carbonate and organic matter fractions in the three samples under investigation. Ni was not detected in the Exchangeable, bound to carbonate and organic matter from Abakpa and Ngwo stream. Pb indicated a high concentration at the carbonate bound fraction from Abakpa (6.329±0.001 µg/g) and Awkunanaw (10.386±0.002 µg/g) streams. Cu was detected in all the fractions from the three samples which serve as indication of an anthropogenic activity taken place at the stream sediments. The total Pb concentrations from the three samples are 6.956 µg/g (Abakpa), 12.419 µg/g (Awkunanaw) and 1.746 µg/g (Ngwo). All the elements are below the EPA value for sediment quality guideline and therefore are fit for agricultural use. However, bioaccumulation of Pb and Cd may occur with time. The contamination factor analysis indicates that Pb, Cu and Ni have low contamination while Cd at Awkunanaw and at Ngwo are moderately contaminated to the environment. The geo-accumulation index showed that Pb, Cu and Ni occur as unpolluted to moderately polluted in conjunction with Cd at Abakpa and Awkunanaw sediments. Cd at Ngwo sediment exhibited a moderately polluted to strongly polluted accumulation index.

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Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025)

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Okorie, E., & Chizelum, U. D. (2025). Mobility and Geochemical Patitioning of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, and Ni) in Sediments of an Urban River, Enugu Nigeria. International Journal Of Research And Technopreneurial Innovations, 2(1), 135-142. https://ijrti.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/66

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