Retention of ⁶⁵Zn by Columbia River sediment

Abstract

Less 65 Zn is displaced from Columbia River sediments by the interaction of sea water than can be removed by leaching with solutions of certain first transition series metals. We interpret this to mean that ion exchange is not an important mechanism in the retention of 65 Zn in these samples. Instead, much of the 65 Zn is held by ‘specific sorption.’ Neither treatment displaced 51 Cr or 46 Sc from the sediments, whereas about one‐third of the 54 Mn was removed upon contact with sea water.