Investigation of behaviour and transportation of heavy metals by numerical modelling

In recent years, the importance of investigation of behaviour and transportation of heavy metals in water systems that are dangerous for human health with toxic characteristics has been increasing and hence work on developing new methods and models are undertaken. The aim of this study is to refine the three - dimensional numerical ECOMSED by implemeting a heavy metal model and then to simulate flow circulation, salt and non-cohesive sediment transportation, deposition and re-suspension. Of using values of those variables, the behaviour of heavy metals was investigated in a simple open channel by taking into consideration the effect of partition coefficient (kd) on particulate and dissolved heavy metal concentrations for various hydrodynamic, salt and non-cohesive sediment conditions. The effect of flow structure, partition coefficient, concentration of salt, suspended sediment and bed load on particulate and dissolved heavy metal concentrations are investigated. It is found that partition coefficient decreases with increasing salinity and dissolved metal concentration increases when suspended sediment concentration decreases.