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The Use of Chemical Probes for the Characterization of the Predominant Abiotic Reductants in Anaerobic Sediments
Citation:
Zhang, H., D. COLON, J. F. KENNEKE, AND E. J. WEBER. The Use of Chemical Probes for the Characterization of the Predominant Abiotic Reductants in Anaerobic Sediments. Chapter 24, Paul G. Tratnyek, Timothy J. Grundl, Stefan B. Haderlein (ed.), Aquatic Redox Chemistry. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1071:539-557, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
Identifying the predominant chemical reductants and pathways for electron transfer in anaerobic systems is paramount to the development of environmental fate models that incorporate pathways for abiotic reductive transformations. Currently, such models do not exist. In this chapter we address the approaches based on the use of probe chemicals that have been successfully implemented for this purpose. The general approach has been to identify viable pathways for electron transfer based on the study of probe chemicals in well-defined model systems. The subsequent translation of these findings to natural systems has been based primarily on laboratory studies of probe chemicals in anaerobic sediments and aquifers. In summary, the results of these studies support a scenario in which pathways for reductive transformations in these systems are dominated by surface-mediated processes (i.e., reaction with Fe(II) associated with Fe(III) mineral oxides and clay minerals), and through the aqueous phase by reduced dissolved organic matter (DOM) (i.e., reduced quinone moieties) and Fe(II)/DOM complexes.
