Copper-binding ligands in deep-sea pore waters of the Pacific Ocean and potential impacts of polymetallic nodule mining on the copper cycle.

ABSTRACT: The release of potentially toxic metals, such as copper (Cu), into the water column is of concern during polymetallic nodule mining. The bioavailability and thus toxicity of Cu is strongly influenced by its speciation which is dominated by organic ligand (L) complexation in seawater, with L-complexes being considered less bioavailable than free Cu²⁺. The presence of CuL-complexes in deep-sea sediments has, however, not been systematically studied in the context of deep-sea mining. We thus analyzed the Cu-binding L concentration ([L]) in deep-sea pore waters of two polymetallic nodule provinces in the Pacific Ocean, the Peru Basin and the Clarion-Clipperton-Zone, using competitive ligand equilibration-adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The pore-water dissolved Cu concentration ([d

SUBMITTER: Paul SAL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8446087 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature