Abstract

In this study, sequential extraction method was used to assess the metal speciation in a chromated copper arsenate contaminated soils. Total value of 47.75 mg arsenic kg^-1 dry soil, 659.43 mg chromium kg^-1 and 406.50 mg copper kg^-1 were obtained in the soil sample. Sequential extraction was conducted for the chromated copper arsenate contaminated soil. The experimental results show that the specific reagents were effective for the extraction of metals from the different fractions of the contaminated soil. In this study, 12.85, 10.17, 7.57, 6.00 and 10.11 mg As kg^-1, 34.48, 132.80, 0.00, 223.96 and 241.69 mg Cr kg^-1 and 7.00, 20.50, 22.50, 136.50 and 194.50 mg Cu kg^-1 were obtained in the exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, organic and residual fraction of the soil. The study revealed the release and redistribution of metals in the various soil fractions during the sequential extraction process, but knowledge about this behaviour and the extent of metal redistribution is ambiguous.

Key words: Sequential extraction, CCA, arsenic, chromium, copper.