Investigation on Possible Contamination of Port Sediments by Means of ATRFTIR Spectroscopy and Thermal Analysis

This study proposes a method employing thermogravimetric analysis (TG) to predict pollution levels by heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg) in port sediments close to urban and industrial sites from bay of Cádiz. For this purpose, the thermogravimetric results of 14 sediment samples were recorded and showed two characteristic ranges of temperatures (W1 as weight loss, %: 200-650°C) vs. (W2 as weight loss, %: 650-900°C) as being representative of the sediment characteristics. Samples with a high W1 were characterized by the prevalence of a thin fraction and high metal content, while samples with a high 2 were characterized by large sandy fractions and, in general, low metal contents in agreement with the pollution load index (PLI). Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis proved to be an alternative tool for the simultaneous detection of many components of sediments. Combined with TG, this technique allows for simultaneous, rapid and reliable screening of pollution levels in port sediments.