Determination of metals, carbon and nitrogen content in the sediments of the black sea

Abstract

Metals (Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Al), total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon (IC), total nitrogen (TN) and CaCO3 contents of sediments collected at various stations in the Black Sea were studied. TOC contents were particularly high in the fluff and the top layers of sediments collected from deep stations. For metals enrichment factors (EF) were calculated using aluminum data and average shale concentrations. At one particular station, located at the center of the eastern basin, high concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured with EFs of 3.71, 13.88, 4.05, 6.29, 13.39 and 4.18, respectively. Lead and chromium were the most abundantly enriched metals in all sediment samples. Metal enrichment exhibited a clear positive association with the TOC content of sediment samples. C/N ratios calculated were in the range of 12-14.