Experimental studies on the origin of metal impurities in DIVA are described. Three processes of metal impurity release, i.e. ion sputtering, evaporation and arcing, have been identified. Among these processes, ion sputtering is the dominant process in the quiet phase of the discharge, which is characterized by the lack of spikes in the loop voltage as well as by the fact that no heat flux concentration towards a specific part of the first wall takes place. Moreover, it is demonstrated that a honeycomb structure can decrease the metal impurity release.