Chemometric Description of River Sediments

From the FA of 12 sediment samples and 11 determined features, measured in three replicates, three factors result which describe 83.7% of total variance (Tab. 8-8). 

The scores of the first factor increase remarkably after discharge from the Sormitz tributary because of the entry of Co- and Ni-containing fine-grained slate particles. In comparison, no significant Co- or Ni-enrichment is detectable in the flowing river water (see Fig. 8-8). The slate particles are only very poorly soluble and a strong dilution effect takes place after the discharge of the Sormitz into the Saale. These results 

Factor 2 results from the discharge of chromium by the leather industry and corresponds to the element pattern in the water. Factor 3, of geogenic origin, is caused by inflows from some small tributaries (Sormitz, Loquitz, Schwarza). 

Some case studies on the investigation of anthropogenic loading of river sediments by organic compounds are given in the literature. For example, WENNING et al. [1993] describe the chemometric analysis, by means of PCA, of potential sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in surface sediments. 

3 Speciation of Heavy Metals in River Water Investigated by Chemometric Methods 

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