Redox processes in recent sediments of the river Meuse, The Netherlands

Abstract

Pore-water concentrations of inorganic solutes were measured at four locations in a recent sedimentation area of the river Meuse in The Netherlands. The pore-water concentration profiles were interpreted using the steady state one-dimensional reaction/transport model STEADYSED1. This model explicitly accounts for the organic matter degradation pathways and secondary redox reactions. Results show that the model reproduces the measured pore-water profiles of redox species reasonably well, although significant divergence is observed for pH. The latter is due to the absence of pH buffering by CaCO3 in the model. At all locations, methanogenesis is the major pathway of organic matter degradation below 3 cm from the sediment-water interface. However, organic matter degradation rates by methanogenesis may be overestimated, because methane ebullition is not included. Differences in profiles of redox-sensitive ions among the four locations are explained by differences in depositional conditions, in particular the sediment accumulation rate and supply of organic matter.