Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Determination Of Copper Speciation, Bioavailability And Toxicity In Saltwater Environments, Tara N. Tait

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The speciation of copper plays a strong role in determining bioavailability and toxicity upon copper exposure in marine environments. Specifically, natural organic matter (NOM) can complex with copper, influencing speciation and decreasing bioavailability. The aim of this research was to determine accurate copper speciation values using literature and new techniques and applying the techniques that reflect the most accurate speciation values to investigate the influence of NOM quantity and quality on copper speciation and toxicity. The results from this study will have implications on the development of a marine Biotic Ligand Model (BLM). Free copper was measured using a flow-through …

Characterizing Dissolved Organic Matter And Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, And Pb2+ Binding In Salt Water And Implications For Toxicity, Rachael L. Diamond

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The binding of metal to dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments is important in controlling the bioavailability and potential toxicity of metals such as Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺. The purpose of this research is to: (i) quantify binding capacity to different sources of marine organic matter at environmentally relevant concentrations; (ii) test fluorescence quenching and voltammetric method for use in seawater conditions and; (iii) compare predicted speciation parameters with toxicological observations in the same samples.

Information regarding the solubility of copper and copper compounds is important for risk assessment and can be …