Mineralization Of Dissolved Organic Carbon Research Articles

Effects of the hydrologic process and geochemistry on dissolved carbon in shallow groundwater surrounding Qinghai Lake

A high concentration of dissolved carbon in groundwater increases drinking water health risks and carbon transport. Understanding the comprehensive impact of hydrologic processes and geochemistry on dissolved carbon in shallow groundwater also is a fundamental prerequisite for estimating the carbon budget of lakes in the Tibetan Plateau. This study investigated the spatial–temporal characteristics of the hydrologic process, geochemistry and dissolved carbon in shallow groundwater by the stable isotope tracer method, Piper diagram and Boomerang envelope model. The driving factors of dissolved carbon in shallow groundwater were explored by correlation analysis and redundancy analysis. The results showed low dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations during the thawing period and rainy season and high DIC concentrations and low DOC concentrations during the freezing period. The seepage velocity, soil carbon dioxide dissolution and gypsum dissolution were the main factors influencing DIC concentrations during the thawing period. The mineralization and decomposition of DOC and dissolution of carbonate rocks were the main factors influencing DIC concentrations during the freezing period. The concentrations of DOC were mainly controlled by the adsorption of Ca2+ and Mg2+, microbial activity and pollutants produced by human activities. Our results are useful for ecological sustainable development, human health, and research on the carbon transport in groundwater in the Tibetan Plateau.

Removal of kathon by UV-C activated hydrogen peroxide: Kinetics, mechanisms, and enhanced biodegradability assessment

Kathon (CMI-MI), a mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMI) and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), was extensively used in industry as a nonoxidizing biocide or disinfectant. However, it would show adverse effects on aquatic life when it is discharged into surface water.In this study, the removal performance, parameter influence, degradation products and enhancement of subsequent biodegradation of CMI-MI in UV/H2O2 system were systematically investigated. The degradation rate of CMI-MI could reach 90% under UV irradiation for 20 min when the dosage of H2O2 was 0.3 mmol·L–1. The DOC (dissolved organic carbon) mineralization rate of CMI-MI could reach 35% under certain conditions ([H2O2] = 0.3 mmol·L–1, UV irradiation for 40 min). kobs was inversely proportional to the concentration of CMI-MI and proportional to the concentration of H2O2. The degradation rate of CMI-MI was almost unchanged in the pH range from 4 to 10. Except the presence of CO32- inhibited the removal rate of CMI-MI, SO42-, Cl−, NO3-, and NH4+ did not interfere with the degradation of CMI-MI in the system. It was found that UV/H2O2 system had lower energy consumption and more economic advantage compared with UV/PS system by comparing the EEO (electric energy per order) values under the same conditions. Two main organic products were identified, namely HCOOH and CH3NH2. There’s also the formation of Cl− and SO42-. After UV and UV/H2O2 photolysis, the biochemical properties of CMI-MI solution were obviously improved, especially the UV/H2O2 treatment effect was better, indicating that UV/H2O2 technology is expected to combine with biotechnology to remove CMI-MI effectively and environmentally friendly from wastewater.

Combining multi-phase flow and pathway-specific reactive transport modeling to investigate the impact of water table fluctuations on dichloromethane biodegradation

Water table fluctuations play a significant role in the redistribution of chemical species, microorganisms and organic pollutants in aquifers by creating favorable zones for reactive processes. This in turn is expected to affect the extent and pathways of biodegradation of halogenated contaminants such as dichloromethane (DCM). Here, a multi-phase flow reactive transport model (RTM) was developed to identify the main drivers of DCM biodegradation in aquifers under steady-state and transient conditions. The RTM includes a description of multi-phase flow, redox conditions, four characteristic bacterial populations and stable isotopologues (i.e., 13C/12C and 37Cl/35Cl) of DCM according to pathway-specific reactions. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was also included as a carbon source for non-DCM degrading populations yielding a more realistic heterotrophic groundwater microbial community. Numerical simulations of eight model scenarios were compared with experimental results from laboratory aquifers. Key biogeochemical processes involved in DCM biodegradation were captured, particularly across the capillary fringe. Only model scenarios of DCM degradation by multiple bacterial metabolisms were able to reproduce the dynamics observed in the laboratory aquifers. The observed and computed enrichment of 13C and 37Cl isotopes over time confirmed enhanced DCM biodegradation during water table fluctuations and highlighted interactions between different bacterial metabolisms. In particular, our RTM suggested that heterotrophic groundwater bacteria played a key role in regulating O2-depletion and redox conditions across fluctuation zones during parallel DOC mineralization. The produced CO2 favored metabolic activity of anaerobic DCM degraders requiring CO2 for their specific fermentative pathways. This study underscores the added value of integrating multi-phase flow, stable isotopes and distinct bacterial populations to understand natural attenuation of DCM in contaminated groundwater.

Dissolved organic matter transformations in a freshwater rivermouth

River-to-lake transitional areas are biogeochemically active ecosystems that can alter the amount and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) as it moves through the aquatic continuum. However, few studies have directly measured carbon processing and assessed the carbon budget of freshwater rivermouths. We compiled measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and DOM in several water column (light and dark) and sediment incubation experiments conducted in the mouth of the Fox river (Fox rivermouth) upstream from Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Despite variation in the direction of DOC fluxes from sediments, we found that the Fox rivermouth was a net sink of DOC where water column DOC mineralization outweighed the release of DOC from sediments at the rivermouth scale. Although we found DOM composition also changed during our experiments, alterations in DOM optical properties were largely independent of the direction of sediment DOC fluxes. We found a consistent decrease in humic-like and fulvic-like terrestrial DOM and a consistent increase in the overall microbial composition of rivermouth DOM during our incubations. Moreover, greater ambient total dissolved phosphorus concentrations were positively associated with the consumption of terrestrial humic-like, microbial protein-like, and more recently derived DOM but had no effect on bulk DOC in the water column. Unexplained variation indicates that other environmental controls and water column processes affect the processing of DOM in this rivermouth. Nonetheless, the Fox rivermouth appears capable of substantial DOM transformation with implications for the composition of DOM entering Lake Michigan.

Controls on Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes in Simulated Networks of Connected Streams and Lakes

AbstractInland waters play a critical role in the carbon cycle by emitting significant amounts of land‐exported carbon to the atmosphere. While carbon gas emissions from individual aquatic systems have been extensively studied, how networks of connected streams and lakes regulate integrated fluxes of organic and inorganic forms remain poorly understood. Here, we develop a process‐based model to simulate the fate of terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in artificial inland water networks with variable topology, hydrology, and DOC reactivity. While the role of lakes is highly dependent on DOC reactivity, we find that the mineralization of terrestrial DOC is more efficient in lake‐rich networks. Regardless of typology and hydrology, terrestrial CO2 is emitted almost entirely within the network boundary. Consequently, the proportion of exported terrestrial carbon emitted from inland water networks increases with the CO2 versus DOC export ratio. Overall, our results suggest that CO2 emissions from inland waters are governed by interactions between the relative amount and reactivity of terrestrial DOC and CO2 inputs and the network configuration of recipient lakes and streams.

Mobilization of subsurface carbon pools driven by permafrost thaw and reactivation of groundwater flow: a virtual experiment

Permafrost thaw leads to an increase in groundwater circulation and potential mobilization of organic carbon sequestered in deep Arctic sediments (e.g. 3–25 m below surface). Upon thaw, a portion of this carbon may be transported along new groundwater flow paths to surface waters or be microbially transformed or immobilized by in-situ biogeochemical reactions. The fate of thaw-mobilized carbon impacts surface water productivity and global climate. We developed a numerical model to investigate the effects of subsurface warming, permafrost thaw, and resultant increased groundwater flow on the mobilization and reactive transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Synthetic simulations demonstrate that mobilization and groundwater-borne DOC export are determined by subsurface thermo-chemical conditions that control the interplay of DOC production (organic matter degradation), mineralization, and sorption. Results suggest that peak carbon mobilization from these depths precedes complete permafrost loss, occurring within two centuries of thaw initiation with the development of supra-permafrost groundwater flow systems. Additionally, this study highlights the lack of field data needed to constrain these new models and apply them in real-word site-specific applications, specifically the amount and spatial variability of organic carbon in deep sediments and data to constrain DOC production rates for groundwater systems in degrading permafrost. Modeling results point to key biogeochemical parameters related to organic matter and carbon bioavailability to be measured in the field to bridge the gap between models and observations. This study provides a foundation for further developing a physics-based modeling framework to incorporate the influence of groundwater flow and permafrost thaw on permafrost DOC dynamics and export, which is imperative for advancing understanding and prediction of carbon release and terrestrial-aquatic carbon exchange in warming Artic landscapes in the coming decades.

Landscape determinants of pelagic and benthic primary production in northern lakes.

Global change affects gross primary production (GPP) in benthic and pelagic habitats of northern lakes by influencing catchment characteristics and lake water biogeochemistry. However, how changes in key environmental drivers manifest and impact total (i.e., benthic + pelagic) GPP and the partitioning of total GPP between habitats represented by the benthic share (autotrophic structuring) is unclear. Using a dataset from 26 shallow lakes located across Arctic, subarctic, and boreal northern Sweden, we investigate how catchment properties (air temperature, land cover, hydrology) affect lake physico-chemistry and patterns of total GPP and autotrophic structuring. We find that total GPP was mostly light limited, due to high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations originating from catchment soils with coniferous vegetation and wetlands, which is further promoted by high catchment runoff. In contrast, autotrophic structuring related mostly to the relative size of the benthic habitat, and was potentially modified by CO2 fertilization in the subarctic, resulting in significantly higher total GPP relative to the other biomes. Across Arctic and subarctic sites, DIC and CO2 were unrelated to DOC, indicating that external inputs of inorganic carbon can influence lake productivity patterns independent of terrestrial DOC supply. By comparison, DOC and CO2 were correlated across boreal lakes, suggesting that DOC mineralization acts as an important CO2 source for these sites. Our results underline that GPP as a resource is regulated by landscape properties, and is sensitive to large-scale global changes (warming, hydrological intensification, recovery of acidification) that promote changes in catchment characteristics and aquatic physico-chemistry. Our findings aid in predicting global change impacts on autotrophic structuring, and thus community structure and resource use of aquatic consumers in general. Given the similarities of global changes across the Northern hemisphere, our findings are likely relevant for northern lakes globally.

Low biodegradability of particulate organic carbon mobilized from thaw slumps on the Peel Plateau, NT, and possible chemosynthesis and sorption effects

Abstract. Warming and wetting in the western Canadian Arctic are accelerating thaw-driven mass wasting by permafrost thaw slumps, increasing total organic carbon (TOC) delivery to headwater streams by orders of magnitude primarily due to increases in particulate organic carbon (POC). Upon thaw, permafrost carbon entering and transported within streams may be mineralized to CO2 or re-sequestered into sediments. The balance between these processes is an important uncertainty in the permafrost–carbon–climate feedback. Using aerobic incubations of TOC from streams affected by thaw slumps we find that slump-derived organic carbon undergoes minimal (∼ 4 %) oxidation over a 1-month period, indicating that this material may be predominantly destined for sediment deposition. Simultaneous measurements of POC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) suggest that mineralization of DOC accounted for most of the TOC loss. Our results indicate that mobilization of mineral-rich tills in this region may protect carbon from mineralization via adsorption to minerals and promote inorganic carbon sequestration via chemolithoautotrophic processes. With intensification of hillslope mass wasting across the northern permafrost zone, region-specific assessments of permafrost carbon fates and inquiries beyond organic carbon decomposition are needed to constrain drivers of carbon cycling and climate feedbacks within stream networks affected by permafrost thaw.

Water quality and the biodegradability of dissolved organic carbon in drained boreal peatland under different forest harvesting intensities

Boreal peatlands are major sources of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to downstream aquatic ecosystems, and forest harvesting generally further increases the loading of DOC and nutrients. Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is proposed to be an environmentally more sustainable management option for peatland forests than conventional even-aged clear-cutting. However, the impacts of CCF on water quality, the biodegradability of DOC and consequent CO2 emissions from inland waters are poorly known. We studied the concentrations of N, P and DOC, the quality of DOC, and the mineralization of DOC to CO2 in ground water and ditch water in clear-cut, partially harvested, i.e. CCF, and uncut drained forests in Finland. Groundwater total N, NH4-N and PO4-P concentrations were significantly lower in CCF and uncut forest than in the clear-cut forest. Groundwater DOC concentrations were often highest in the clear-cut forest, where the water table was closer to the soil surface. Ditch water DOC and N concentrations were lowest next to the clear-cut area. DOC aromaticity in ground water was higher in the uncut forest than in the clear-cut and CCF, whereas ditch water aromaticity did not differ between the treatments. The biodegradation of DOC was studied by incubating water (at 15 °C for 24 h) 1, 3, 7 and 21 days after sampling. The results indicated that the majority of the CO2 production took place during the first three days, and CO2 fluxes were considerably higher from the ditch water than from the groundwater. The CO2 emissions were lower in summer than in the other seasons. Ditch water and groundwater CO2 production were generally significantly higher in the clear-cut than in the uncut forest. The results suggest that CCF can decrease the nutrient concentrations as well as CO2 emissions from inland waters compared to conventional clear-cutting.

Evaluation of the moderate DI13C isotope enrichment method for measuring photochemical mineralization of marine dissolved organic carbon

AbstractThe moderate DI13C isotope enrichment (MoDIE) method by Powers et al. (2017) is a promising method to precisely measure the photochemical mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in water samples without dramatically altering a sample's pH or organic carbon pool. Here, we evaluated the analytical uncertainties of the MoDIE method and used Monte Carlo simulations to optimize the experimental design for the most precise measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) that is produced photochemically (DIChν). Analytically, we recommend calculating yields of DIChv with an exact expression of conservation of mass that intrinsically reduces error and uncertainty. Methodologically, the overall uncertainty and detection limit of the MoDIE method can be significantly reduced by partially stripping away the original DIC pool, enriching the residual DIC with more DI13C, and increasing the yields of DIChv via longer irradiation. Instrumentally, more precise measurements of enriched δ13C values before and after irradiation are needed to further improve the precision of DIChν concentration determinations. Higher precision DIChv measurements via the optimized MoDIE method can improve our understanding of the photochemical mineralization of DOC and thus the budget of marine DOC. The optimizations and detection limits reported here will become more refined as measurements and associated uncertainties from future MoDIE experiments become available.

Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation to remove natural organic matter from real surface waters at urban and rural drinking water treatment plants

Al/Fe-pillared-clay-activated catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) in real surface water streams at both urban drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and rural plants (R) was investigated. The clay-catalyst prepared from technical-grade reagents exhibited textural properties quite comparable to those of the one obtained from analytical-grade, costly reagents. The mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was improved to around 90 % under ambient conditions of temperature (10–19 °C) and pH (6.07–8.12), and not governed by adsorption of the complex on the catalyst’s surface. Optimal dose of hydrogen peroxide per unit mass of DOC and Fe in the solid was found to be 0.037 mg H2O2/mg C.mg Fe. The maximal efficiency of hydrogen peroxide consumption in the degradation of a synthetic surrogate of NOM (0.437 mg C/mg H2O2) was significantly enhanced in comparison with recent studies on phenol spiked solutions (≤0.124 mg C/mg H2O2), but also when real water samples were treated (0.176 mg C/mg H2O2), while the selectivity to DOC mineralization remained close to 90 %. Sulfates and chlorides in real surface waters showed the most detrimental effect on the DOC mineralization. The more cost-effective couplings of the Al/Fe-PILC-catalyzed CWPO treatment to improve urban drinking water treatment plants by promoting both DOC mineralization and improved H2O2 consumption as a function of the input SUVA254 were (raw water → CWPO → physicochemical treatment) for values < 2.0 dm3/mg DOC.m, and (raw water → physicochemical treatment → CWPO) for values > 2.0 dm3/mg DOC.m.

Degradation of Bisphenol A in an Aqueous Solution by a Photo-Fenton-Like Process Using a UV KrCl Excilamp.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a precursor to important plastics, is regarded as a common aquatic micropollutant with endocrine-disrupting activity. In the present study, we explored the capability of a UV KrCl excilamp (222 nm) to degrade BPA by a photo-Fenton-like process using persulfate under flow-through conditions. The first-order rate constants of degradation were obtained and the mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was estimated. The results showed complete BPA degradation and high DOC mineralization (70–97%). A comparative analysis of degradation rates and DOC removal in the examined systems (UV, Fe2+/S2O82−, UV/S2O82− and UV/Fe2+/S2O82−) revealed a significant synergistic effect in the photo-Fenton-like system (UV/Fe2+/S2O82−) without the accumulation of toxic intermediates. This indicated that the BPA was oxidized via the conjugated radical chain mechanism, which was based on the photo-induced and catalytic processes involving HO• and SO4−• radicals. The primary intermediates of BPA degradation in the UV/Fe2+/S2O82− system were identified by HPLC/MS and the oxidation pathway was proposed. The high performance of the photo-Fenton-like process employing a quasi-monochromatic UV radiation of a KrCl excilamp offers promising potential for an efficient removal of such micropollutants from aqueous media.

Carbon release and transformation from coastal peat deposits controlled by submarine groundwater discharge: a column experiment study

AbstractAlthough the majority of coastal sediments consist of sandy material, in some areas marine ingression caused the submergence of terrestrial carbon‐rich peat soils. This affects the coastal carbon balance, as peat represents a potential carbon source. We performed a column experiment to better understand the coupled flow and biogeochemical processes governing carbon transformations in submerged peat under coastal fresh groundwater (GW) discharge and brackish water intrusion. The columns contained naturally layered sediments with and without peat (organic carbon content in peat 39 ± 14 wt%), alternately supplied with oxygen‐rich brackish water from above and oxygen‐poor, low‐saline GW from below. The low‐saline GW discharge through the peat significantly increased the release and ascent of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the peat (δ13CDOC − 26.9‰ to − 27.7‰), which was accompanied by the production of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), implying DOC mineralization. Oxygen respiration, sulfate () reduction, and methane (CH4) formation were differently pronounced in the sediments and were accompanied with higher microbial abundances in peat compared to sand with ‐reducing bacteria clearly dominating methanogens. With decreasing salinity and concentrations, CH4 emission rates increased from 16.5 to 77.3 μmol m−2 d−1 during a 14‐day, low‐saline GW discharge phase. In contrast, oxygenated brackish water intrusion resulted in lower DOC and DIC pore water concentrations and significantly lower CH4 and CO2 emissions. Our study illustrates the strong dependence of carbon cycling in shallow coastal areas with submerged peat deposits on the flow and mixing dynamics within the subterranean estuary.

Hydro-climate and biogeochemical processes control watershed organic carbon inflows: Development of an in-stream organic carbon module coupled with a process-based hydrologic model

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters directly influences the speciation, transport, and fate of heavy metals, as well as the partitioning of organic contaminants. However, the lack of process-based watershed-scale models for simulating carbon cycling and transport has limited the effective watershed management to control organic carbon fluxes to source waters and throughout the river systems. Here, a process-based in-stream organic carbon (OC) module was developed, coupled with the physically process-based Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and linked with its existing soil carbon module to simulate dynamics of both particulate organic carbon (POC) and DOC. The advanced model simulates a large spectrum of OC processes from landscapes to stream networks throughout the watersheds. In-stream organic carbon processes related to POC and DOC as state variables are modeled in the water column, and the transformations between different carbon species and interactions between OC with algae are considered. The module's ability to simulate total organic carbon (TOC) loads was assessed, and the monthly and seasonal variations were captured over 14 years. Simulations for TOC loads suggested that spring snowmelt and summer rainfall runoff events are the main driving forces behind TOC export in the watershed. The parameter sensitivity analysis and dynamic reaction rate simulated in the streams suggested that TOC dynamics in the study area are controlled by both landscape and in-stream processes. The spatiotemporal analysis of the simulated TOC load showed that 55.8% of total terrestrial OC exports into the streams are removed due to in-stream POC settling and DOC mineralization, confirming the necessity of integrating terrestrial and aquatic OC processes for process understanding and for modelling and management of water quality at the watershed scale. The developed OC module is a potentially effective tool for simulating the OC cycle at the watershed scale and can be applied further to water treatment plans and watershed management.

Quantification of microbial degradation activities in biological activated carbon filters by reverse stable isotope labelling

Biological activated carbon (BAC) filters are frequently used in drinking water production for removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) via adsorption of organic compounds and microbial degradation. However, proper methods are still missing to distinguish the two processes. Here, we introduce reverse stable isotope labelling (RIL) for assessing microbial activity in BAC filters. We incubated BAC samples from three different BAC filters (two granular activated carbon- and one extruded activated carbon-based) in a buffer amended with 13C-labelled bicarbonate. By monitoring the release of 12C–CO2 from the mineralization of DOC, we could demonstrate the successful application of RIL in analysing microbial DOC degradation during drinking water treatment. Changing the water flow rates through BAC filters did not alter the microbial activities, even though apparent DOC removal efficiencies changed accordingly. Microbial DOC degradation activities quickly recovered from backwashing which was applied for removing particulate impurities and preventing clogging. The size distributions of activated carbon particles led to vertical stratification of microbial activities along the filter beds. Our results demonstrate that reverse isotope labelling is well suited to measure microbial DOC degradation on activated carbon particles, which provides a basis for improving operation and design of BAC filters.

Role of temperature on the development of hypoxia in blackwater from grass

In eastern Australia the development of hypoxic blackwater/floodwater and its detrimental consequences are more common in summer than winter. This study examined the effect of temperature on the development of hypoxic conditions which was determined as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in floodwater when pasture grass (a source containing labile organic carbon) was inundated. Labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in blackwater is one of the main factors that contribute to the development of hypoxic conditions. Temperature plays a key role on the microbial mineralization of labile DOC and hence the development of hypoxic conditions. Prolonged flooding at different seasons (having different temperatures) was simulated in the laboratory by incubating fresh pasture grass cuttings with river water and soil at three different temperatures (20 °C, 27.5 °C and 35 °C) for 20 days. Although this study shows that elevated ambient temperatures can result in more rapid development of hypoxic conditions during the first week of flood peak, it is evident that blackwater formed at relatively moderate ambient temperatures (e.g. 20 °C) has a similar potential to deoxygenate the receiving water bodies, especially after one week's duration of flood peak.

Wetland saturation with introduced Fe(III) reduces total carbon emissions and promotes the sequestration of DOC

Solutions containing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from a depressional wetland that receives agricultural drainage water were incubated in pure quartz sands with FeCl3 added as the main electron acceptor. The effects of three factors (the water, DOC, and Fe contents) on the CO2 and CH4 production rates, integrated cumulative C emissions and Fe-OC co-precipitation were studied. The results showed that CO2 production during the DOC mineralization process was facilitated by Fe(III) reduction at the expense of CH4 production. Additionally, the cumulative CO2 emissions determined by integrating the temporal curves of CO2 production were negatively correlated with those of CH4 (r = −0.48, p < 0.01). Extremely large ratios of the CO2:CH4 production rate (13,762 and 44,885 under two soil water conditions: saturation and flood conditions of twice the saturation level) were observed. These ratios were likely caused by simultaneous anaerobic fermentation, microbial respiration, and methanogenesis suppression triggered by iron reduction. The effects of exogenous Fe(III) inputs on total C emissions (as the sum of integrated cumulative CO2 and CH4) were only dependent on soil water conditions during the initial period of the experiment, and flooded conditions increased total C emissions by as much as double. Increased ratios of Fe inputs to C contents were found to proportionally increase the total C emissions (R2 = 0.32, p < 0.01). Under saturated conditions, the co-precipitation of Fe-OC complexes prevented the remainder of the DOC from undergoing mineralization. In terms of DOC, we concluded that wetland saturation with introduced Fe(III) can reduce total C emissions from anaerobic respiration and promote C sequestration.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for Staphylococcus aureus disinfection in municipal WWTP effluents

This paper presents the Staphylococcus aureus inactivation in a simulated wastewater treatment plant effluent by different electrochemical techniques, including the photo-electro-Fenton process. S. aureus, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total oxidants and H2O2 concentrations, as well as pH, were monitored during the assays. An electrolytic cell, including a UVA lamp, a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as cathode and an IrO2 anode, was used to conduct the experiments under galvanostatic conditions (20 mA). Low inactivation (−0.4) and low DOC removal were achieved within 120 min when applying the GDE-IrO2 system, in which bacteria disinfection was caused by the generated H2O2. When light was combined with GDE-IrO2, the process efficiency noticeably increased (−3.7 log inactivation) due to the synergistic effect between UVA and H2O2. Introducing iron (5 mg L−1 Fe2+) into the system also produced higher disinfection and DOC mineralization. The electro-Fenton process (GDE-IrO2+Fe2+) led to a bacterial reduction of −0.9 log units and DOC reduction of 14%, while with the photo-electro-Fenton process (GDE-IrO2+UVA + Fe2+) −5.2 units of bacteria and 26% of DOC were removed. Increasing the current intensity (20 mA, 30 mA and 40 mA) in the photo-electro-Fenton system increased H2O2 production and, consequently, augmented the bacterial inactivation (−5.2 log, −6.2 log and −6.5 log, respectively). However, mineralization extent slightly increased or remained practically the same. When comparing the influence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ on photo-electro-Fenton, similar S. aureus inactivation was observed, while DOC removal was higher with Fe2+ (31%) than with Fe3+ (19%). Finally, by testing the system with a Ti anode, the direct anodic oxidation contribution of the IrO2 anode was identified as negligible.

Ancient low–molecular-weight organic acids in permafrost fuel rapid carbon dioxide production upon thaw

Northern permafrost soils store a vast reservoir of carbon, nearly twice that of the present atmosphere. Current and projected climate warming threatens widespread thaw of these frozen, organic carbon (OC)-rich soils. Upon thaw, mobilized permafrost OC in dissolved and particulate forms can enter streams and rivers, which are important processors of OC and conduits for carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. Here, we demonstrate that ancient dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leached from 35,800 y B.P. permafrost soils is rapidly mineralized to CO2. During 200-h experiments in a novel high-temporal-resolution bioreactor, DOC concentration decreased by an average of 53%, fueling a more than sevenfold increase in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration. Eighty-seven percent of the DOC loss to microbial uptake was derived from the low-molecular-weight (LMW) organic acids acetate and butyrate. To our knowledge, our study is the first to directly quantify high CO2 production rates from permafrost-derived LMW DOC mineralization. The observed DOC loss rates are among the highest reported for permafrost carbon and demonstrate the potential importance of LMW DOC in driving the rapid metabolism of Pleistocene-age permafrost carbon upon thaw and the outgassing of CO2 to the atmosphere by soils and nearby inland waters.

Experimental assessment of a possible microbial priming effect in a humic boreal lake

Global change models normally do not include interaction effects between different pools of recalcitrant humic organic carbon which can alter carbon cycling via their influence on biological activities. This issue is especially important in northern regions where lakes receive high inputs of allochthonous dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the extensive surrounding peatlands. We investigated the threshold of added labile DOC necessary to promote a priming effect (PE); i.e. stimulation of bacterial metabolism with a subsequent increase in the mineralization of recalcitrant DOC and the accompanying changes in microbial community structure and function. Our study was carried out in a small highly humic lake (Mekkojarvi, southern Finland), physically divided by a plastic curtain into two experimental basins, one where fish were present (+FISH) and one that was fishless (−FISH). In each basin, we performed a factorial mesocosm experiment in which different amounts of labile DOC were supplied as cane sugar (control +6, +9, +12 mg C L−1). Our results showed no priming effect in any carbon treatment, either in +FISH or in −FISH basins, despite a decreasing trend in total DOC concentration. Bacterial abundance and production did not increase as a response to carbon additions, while mixotrophic algae increased their abundance over time. In our experiments, the organisms that benefitted most after addition of labile DOC were mixotrophic algae, which can transform carbon into biomass by obtaining inorganic nutrients through phagotrophy. This appears most likely due to strong bacterial N limitation and dependence on resource availability and stoichiometry.