Distribution and bioavailability of rare earth elements in aquatic microcosm

A static laboratory aquatic microcosm was conducted to evaluate the distribution of mixed REEs—rare earth elements (lanthanum, cerium, samarium, gadolinium and yttrium) in natural water bodies. Several kinds of species were used. Duckweed represented phytoplankton, daphnia represented crustacean, shellfish represented benthic species and goldfish represented fishes. Samples from water, sediment and each species were analyzed by ICP-AES to determine their REEs contents. It was found that most REEs was adsorbed by sediment and might be redischarged into water, and the bioconcentration order of REEs in the species is duckweed > daphnia > shellfish > goldfish. The results will be useful to evaluate the environmental impact of the wide use of REEs in China.