Surface reactivity of suspended matter and sediments

The potential ability of sediments and suspended matter of the Venice Lagoon to associate dissolved polluttants was analyzed through three operational surface parameters: the specific surface area(SSA), the heat of immersion (HI) in water and polar and non-polar organic compounds, and the cation exchamge capacity using ammonium as the exchangeable cation (ASI). The particulate surface reactivity appears to be controlled by hydrophilic characteristic of surface functional groups which are related to the amount and composition of particulate organic matter.