Ports infrastructures are generally protected by cathodic protection using aluminium
sacrificial anodes. Anodes are then dissolved in seawater and Al can accumulate in
sediments. This study was led in the framework of the European EFFORTS project.
Investigations were realized on sediments and water from a French port, which uses
aluminium sacrificial anodes. The aim was to estimate the possible contamination level and
the chemical speciation of aluminium. Moreover, a special interest was given to heavy
metals. Different sites were sampled in 2007. Surface water and interstitial water samples
were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
for the determination of Al, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Si, and Zn. Total metal concentrations in
the sediment were determined after alkaline fusion. A contamination factor was calculated.
A cold-acid extraction (HCl 1 mol.L-1) solution and a sequential extraction were conducted
in order to evaluate the labile fraction of metals. This study shows relatively weak aluminium
level in the port compared to the reference point. The situation is similar for the heavy
metals studied except for the site near factories. The Al labile fraction represents 5% or less
of the total aluminium, except for the site near factories, for which more than 10% of Al is
mobilized.
Keywords: aluminium, zinc, sediment, water, sacrificial anodes