METAL SPECIATION IN JHANJI RIVER SEDIMENTS

The chemical forms of Lead, Zinc, Chromium, Cobalt, Nickel and Copper have been determined using the fractionation scheme of Tessier et al. (1979) and Chao (1972) in the bed sediments of Jhanji River, Assam, In dia. Almost a similar trend throughout the stretch with no significant spatial variation has been observed in the present study. Significant association with the residual fraction (F5) and a scavenging action b y the Fe-Mn oxide fraction (F3b) of the sediments were observed. Excep t copper, no significant association of other metals with the organic fraction (F4) was observed. Thus, they cannot be easily leached out an d may pose less environmental risk. The sediment characteristics playe d a significant role in defining the chemical forms of the metals pres ent in the sediments. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science B.V.