Abstract:

The feasibility of 4 iron oxides including goethite, hematite, ferrihydrite and lean hematite to immobilize heavy metals in the polluted sediments was analyzed by investigating the adsorption capacities of the iron oxides, the change of adsorption characteristics of the sediments after the introduction of the iron oxides into the sediments. The results indicate that the in
troduction of the iron oxides reduced the adsorption capacity of Cu onto the sediments, but increased the adsorption capacity of Zn onto the sediments, especially after the introduction of hematite and goethite. So, the hematite and goethite were recognized as the most suitable materials for stabilizing and immobilizing Zn in the polluted sediments.

Key words: iron oxides, sediments, heavy metals, immobilization; hematite, goethite