Guo Bo-shu

Heavy metal complexation capacity of the South China Sea water

The seawater complexation capacity for heavy metals (copper, lead and cadmium) in the South China Sea was determined by anodic voltammetry and the conditional stability constants of these complexes were calculated. The data showed that the complexation capacity of the South China Sea water was greater than that of seawater in the Huanghe Estuary and the coast water of Qingdao. The sequence of complexation capacity is C (CuL)>C(PbL)>C(CdL), and the conditional stability constants were in an opposite sequence: K(CuL)<K(PbL)<K(CdL).The types, and shapes of the complexation capacity profiles for Cu, Cd and Pb were similar to those obtained by Buckley (1986) for the Atlantic Ocean water. Complexation capacity is maximum at the surface layer, decreasing with depth, reaching minimum at 750m, but increasing again near the sea bottom.

Study on the isotherms of the interaction between suspended particles and Cu (II) in the Huanghe River

The isotherms of the interaction between the suspended particles and Cu2+, and the effects of lysine and asparaginic acid on the isotherms in the Huanghe (Yellow) River were studied by applying the theory and method of interfacial stepwise ion/coordination particle exchange. We obtained a new stepped river isotherm, formed by two curves joined together with a “plateau” in the middle. The adsorption equilibrium constantsK1 andK2 were calculated by using the isothermal equation of surface stepwise ion exchange. Amino acid in small amount promotes exchange adsorption of the suspended particles with Cu2+. The degree of promotive action relates to the isoelectric point of amino acid. The promotive effect of lysine is bigger than that of asparaginic acid.