X‑ray technology to measure heavy metals in fiber banks

Sweden is among the world leaders in the production of paper and pulp. However, this industry generates large quantities of wastewater that get discharged into the Baltic Sea and thus potentially affects the aquatic environment. Effluent water from the pulp and paper production contains cellulose or wood fibers that can accumulate on the seafloor and lead to the formation of so-called fiber banks. The production-related wood and cellulose fibers that were suspended in the water outside Östrand has since long time accumulated and formed fiber banks. Historically, before modern environmental regulations, the fibers in the wastewater could contain high concentrations of heavy metals. These heavy metals are now present in the lower parts of the fiber banks outside Östrand.

The substances will be investigated by using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. ED-XRF spectrometry is a non-destructive analytical technique suitable for analysis of various elements in the environment and many industries and applications. The measurements are important as a basis for decision-making both for the factory, for the region and as a democratic basis for citizens.

Our focus will be to investigate the concentration of Hg and other heavy metals present in the fiber banks near SCA Östrand and to provide input to the mill, region and citizens with respect to Hg and heavy metals and its regulations and control to sustain essential ecological processes and life-support systems such as circulation of fresh water and finally preservation of soil water.

Research goal

The aim of this project is to investigate the presence of inorganic pollutants in the fiber bank areas of SCA Östrand, Sweden. The objective is to determine the concentration of Hg and heavy metal elements in the fiber banks. How available the pollutants in the sediment are for uptake in living organisms and transport to the water column. In order to do this, the amount of fiber bank samples will be investigated with the newly developed in-house energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) setup. The measurements will be done in the field by portable BRUKER i5 instruments and underwater measurements with in-house developed portable ED-XRF instruments.

Enhanced understanding of the presence of Hg in absorbing aqueous medium is challenging but can be achievable and this work will increase Sweden’s focus in the global push towards improved measuring equipment’s.

The project is financed through Bo Rydin Foundation for Scientific Research.