Platinum-Group Elements in Urban Fluvial Bed Sediments—Hawaii. In: Zereini F, Wiseman CL, editors. Platinum Metals in the Environment. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2015. pp. 163-86. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-44559-4_12]

The temporal distribution of platinum group elements (PGEs) in PM2.5

In this paper, Changji, Xinjiang, northwest China, was selected as the study area, and platinum group elements (PGEs) in PM_2.5 were quantified by ICP-MS using microwave digestion. The results indicated that the average concentrations (and range) of Rh, Pd, and Pt in PM_2.5 were 0.21 (n.d. -1.41) ng/m³, 8.09 (n.d. -59.50) ng/m³, and 0.12 (n.d. -0.83) ng/m³, respectively_. The concentration of Pd was significantly higher than Rh and Pt. Moreover, the seasonal variations of Rh and Pd were the same: highest in summer and lower in other seasons. However, the seasonal variation of Pt was opposite to that of Rh and Pd: highest in winter and lower in other seasons. Seasonal differences in emission sources of PGEs and the climatic characteristics of arid regions played important roles in the seasonal changes of PGEs. Rh and Pd had a common source and similar diurnal variation. The major influencing factors were traffic volume and meteorological conditions. The diurnal variation regularity of Pt was different from Rh and Pd. The superimposed effect of vehicle exhaust emissions and coal-fired emissions was the main reason why the diurnal variation of Pt was more complicated than those of Rh and Pd. The diurnal concentration of Pt varied with the seasons. It is caused by seasonal coal combustion and meteorological conditions.

Analysis of the palladium response relationship of a receiving water body under multiple scenario changes in rainfall-runoff pollution

Urban rainfall-runoff pollution is one of the main reasons for the deterioration of the receiving water quality. In this study, the lower reaches of the Meishe River on Hainan Island, China were adopted as the research area, and palladium (Pd) was selected as the target pollutant. The purpose of this study was to construct an input response model and to examine the Pd response relationship of receiving water bodies under multiple scenario changes of rainfall-runoff pollution combined with scenario analysis methods. The results showed that the mean absolute percent error (MAPE) and relative mean square error (RMSE) of the input response model were within 15%, which demonstrated the reliability of the model when applied to the simulation of the response of Pd in receiving water bodies to rainfall runoff. The dissolved Pd concentration in the receiving water body decreased in the following order: the moderate rain scenario > rainstorm scenario > the heavy rain scenario. The suspended Pd concentration in the receiving water body first increased and then decreased, and its decay rate was closely related to rainfall intensity and duration. Under the heavy rain and rainstorm scenarios, within 20 m downstream from the outfall, the occurrence time of the maximum suspended Pd concentration in the receiving water body was inversely proportional to the distance. The number of previous clear days was inversely proportional to the dissolved Pd concentration in the receiving water body and proportional to the suspended Pd concentration in the receiving water body. Under the short period of previous clear day scenario, the maximum suspended Pd concentration in each section of the receiving water body appeared earlier than that under the moderate and long periods of previous clear day scenarios.

Response of palladium in receiving water bodies to rainfall-runoff

Palladium (Pd) is widely used in automotive catalytic converters to reduce toxic gas emissions. The input of Pd in the rainfall-runoff is an important contributing factor to the accumulation of Pd in receiving water bodies. In this study, the Meishe River in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, was used as the research area, and palladium (Pd) was selected as the target pollutant. This study explored the response of Pd in the receiving water body to rainfall-runoff and to analyze the influencing factors. The results showed that the dissolved Pd concentration in the receiving water body had a corresponding relationship with that in rainfall-runoff. The response of suspended Pd in the receiving water body to rainfall-runoff was closely related to the location of the drainage outlet. Compared with that of suspended Pd, the response of dissolved Pd in the receiving water body to that in the rainfall-runoff was more obvious. Seven meters downstream from the outfall was the most sensitive response distance of dissolved Pd in receiving water bodies to rainfall-runoff, and the response time was approximately 0-10 min. The suspended Pd at 3 m downstream from the outfall also had a certain response to the rainfall-runoff, and the response time was approximately 15-25 min. The response time of the suspended Pd in the receiving water body depended largely on the first flush ability of the runoff. There was a moderately positive correlation between the dissolved Pd and Cl^- in the receiving water body (r = 0.687; p < 0.05). The effects of pH, Eh, and total suspended solids (TSS) on suspended Pd were reduced in the response process of the receiving water body. The synergistic effect of multiple factors increased the uncertainty of the Pd response.

Dynamic change in particulate palladium concentrations in a mangrove wetland water environment and its mechanism in Dongzhai Harbor, China

Palladium (Pd), in platinum group elements (PGEs), is widely used as a catalyst in vehicle exhaust catalytic converters (VECs). The cumulative level of Pd in the environment is growing rapidly, and the potential threat to human health is increasing. In this paper, the mangrove wetland in Dongzhai Harbor, Hainan Province, China, was taken as the research area for the collection of water samples. The particulate Pd was determined by microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The particulate Pd showed a decreasing trend from the estuary to offshore. The land origin of Pd in the mangrove wetland was explained. The Pd concentrations in the suspended state were lower in the wet season than in the dry season. Tide had an obvious influence on particulate Pd. The concentrations of particulate Pd at spring tide were higher than those at neap tide. The concentrations of particulate Pd at ebb tide were higher than those at flood tide. The rainfall intensity also had a strong influence on the particulate Pd. The particulate Pd increased after moderate and light rain but decreased after heavy rain. The pH, redox potential(Eh), and Cl^- had little effect on particulate Pd in the water environment. This study is helpful for understanding the environmental geochemical characteristics of Pd in mangrove wetlands and provides a theoretical basis for the study of Pd in urban coastal mangrove environment.

Variation in palladium and water quality parameters and their relationship in the urban water environment

Palladium (Pd) is widely used in vehicle exhaust catalysts (VECs) to reduce toxic emissions from motor vehicles. The study aimed to quantitatively determine Pd content and water quality parameters, to analyze the variation differences and to explore the effect of water quality parameters on Pd content in the urban water environment system (wet deposition-rainfall runoff-receiving water body-estuary) of the city of Haikou, Hainan Island, China. The method used in this study included microwave digestion under high pressure and temperature, analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, quality control of the experimental procedure and guaranteed recovery (85% -125%). The results showed that the dissolved Pd average content in the urban water environment system was the highest in rainfall runoff (4.93 ng/L), followed by that in the receiving water body (4.56 ng/L), and it was the lowest in wet deposition (0.1 ng/L). The suspended Pd average content was the highest in the estuary (2.83 ng/L), followed by that in rainfall runoff (1.26 ng/L), and it was the lowest in wet deposition (6 × 10^-4 ng/L). The particle-water partition ratio of the estuary Pd was the highest (1.26), followed by that of Pd in rainfall runoff (0.26). The particle-water partition ratio of the wet deposition Pd was the lowest (6 × 10^-3). The dissolved Pd was correlated with the pH, Cl^-, and total suspended solids (TSS) (correlation coefficient = 0.52, -0.68, 0.39, p < 0.05; regression coefficient = 1.27, -1.39, 0.01). The suspended Pd was only correlated with Cl^- and TSS (correlation coefficient = -0.36, 0.76, p < 0.05; regression coefficient = -1.45, 0.01). Cl^- and TSS were the most closely related to Pd in the water environment system. Although individual factors such as pH, Cl^-, and TSS had certain migration and transformation effects on Pd in the wet deposition-rainfall runoff-receiving water body-estuary system, the probability of strong correlations was not high. In particular, Eh was not related to the dissolved nor suspended Pd content (correlation coefficient = 0.14, 0.13), which may be due to the synergistic effect of the multiple physical factors on Pd. This study was helpful to better understand the environmental behavior of Pd and provided important theoretical support for the prevention and protection against urban water environmental pollution.

Platinum and rhodium in Tagus estuary, SW Europe: sources and spatial distribution

The spatial distribution of Pt and Rh was assessed in Tagus estuary and their sources discussed. Both elements were analysed in superficial sediment samples (n = 72) by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry. Concentrations varied within the following ranges: 0.18-5.1 ng Pt g^-1 and 0.02-1.5 ng Rh g^-1. Four distinct areas were established: "reference"; waste- and pluvial water discharge; motorway bridges and industrialised areas. The calculated reference median concentrations were 0.55 ng Pt g^-1 and 0.27 ng Rh g^-1. Linear relationships were found between Pt and Al, Fe and LOI, whereas Rh depicted scattered patterns. The highest concentrations were found nearby industrialised areas and a motorway bridge, corresponding to the enrichment of 10 and 6 times the background of Pt and Rh, respectively. The main sources of contamination to the Tagus estuary derived from historical and present industrial activities and from automotive catalytic converters. Large variations of Pt/Rh ratio (0.48-39) point to different sources, reactivity and dilution effects.

Improved voltammetric method for simultaneous determination of Pt and Rh using second derivative signal transformation - application to environmental samples

The determination of Platinum-group elements (PGE) in relevant environmental matrices is a challenging task. Sensitive and accurate analytical procedures for simultaneous determination of Pt and Rh are still needed. In this study, we report for the first time on the use of second derivative signal transformation to the ultra-trace simultaneous determination of Pt and Rh by Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (AdCSV). With that step, the ill-defined peaks typically observed in the original voltammograms are transformed into well-shaped peaks, resulting in accurate detection. The experimental conditions were investigated and optimised: a suitable electrolyte for both elements, with less reagents consumption, (0.25M H₂SO₄, 0.05M HCl, 0.01M FA and 0.5mM HZ), deposition time (t_d) and deposition potential (E_d). For t_d = 120s and E_d = -0.75V, linear relationships r > 0.999 were obtained in the concentration range up to 5.8ngL^-1 (27 pM) for Pt and up to 3.4ngL^-1 (34 pM) for Rh. Limits of detection were 0.2ngL^-1 for Pt and 0.08ngL^-1 for Rh. Lower values can be achieved by increasing the deposition time. Limits of quantification, LOQ, calculated as 3 times LOD, were 0.5ngL^-1 for Pt and 0.2ngL^-1 for Rh. The sensitivity of Pt was affected by elevated Zn concentrations, whereas a minor effect was observed for Rh. However, Pt and Rh determinations were not influenced using the standard addition method. Precision as intermediate precision and expressed as relative standard deviation, based on Pt and Rh spiked solutions and digested road dust CRM BCR-723 was 17% and 20% for Pt and Rh, respectively. Recoveries of CRM were around 90% for both elements. The method was successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of Pt and Rh in sediments from Tagus estuary and, for the first time, dissolved Rh was determined in water samples of a waste water treatment plant. Application of this technique in a multidisciplinary approach will be a relevant contribution to the current understanding of PGE cycle and fate in the environment.