利用白云石石灰去除与回收污泥厌氧消化液中氮和磷

以白云石石灰为实验材料去除与回收污泥厌氧消化液中的氮磷,通过小试实验研究不同投药固液比S/L、初始pH值、反应温度、搅拌速度及反应时间对去除与回收氮磷效果的影响。实验结果表明,在最佳投药固液比S/L为300mg/L,最佳初始pH值范围为8.5~9.5,反应温度为25.0℃,搅拌速度为150 r/min,反应时间为24 h条件下,氨氮(NH+4-N)和磷(PO3-4-P)的去除率分别为37.26%和89.60%。利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)对沉淀产物进行了表征,通过分析可知沉淀产物中含有磷酸铵镁(MAP),可实现废水中氮磷经济有效的回收。     

赤泥晶种法磷酸铵镁结晶工艺模拟废水磷的回收

以赤泥为晶种,研究不同工艺条件对磷酸铵镁(MAP)结晶法回收模拟废水中磷的影响。结果表明,在投加赤泥(60～80目)8 g/L,搅拌速度为180 r/min,搅拌时间30 min,沉淀时间30 min,N∶Mg∶P=1∶1∶1的条件下磷酸根离子的回收率随初始磷酸盐浓度的增加而增大,在初始磷酸盐浓度小于90 mg/L时增幅较大,初始磷酸盐浓度大于90 mg/L后增幅减小;pH值对磷酸根离子的回收率影响显著,结合铵根离子、镁离子的回收率变化,pH值为9.5时最优;磷酸根离子的回收率随着Mg∶P摩尔比和N∶P摩尔比增大而呈上升趋势,当Mg∶P摩尔比为1.4∶1、N∶P摩尔比为4∶1时,磷酸盐的回收率可达97.9%。运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线能谱仪(EDS)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)对最优工艺条件下的结晶产物进行了表征,表明磷主要以磷酸铵镁形态回收。     

以农田高盐排水为替代镁源回收养殖废水中的磷素

为解决新疆南疆地区养殖废水高浓度氮磷和农田排水中的高浓度盐分的协同污染问题,以农田高盐排水为镁源对模拟养殖废水中的磷进行了回收实验,对比了高盐排水和常规镁源的磷回收效率,探讨了影响其回收的主要因素,并通过正交试验获得了高盐排水回收磷的最优反应条件.与常规MgC12镁源的磷回收对比分析结果表明,pH=10时高盐排水回收磷的效率最高,比MgCl2镁源达最大回收率所需的反应pH略高;利用L34正交试验探究了pH(8、9、10、11)、Mg:P摩尔比(1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5)、N:P摩尔比(1.0、1.5、2.0、4.0)对高盐排水镁源回收磷的影响,并结合SPSS统计分析得到高盐排水回收磷的最优反应条件为pH=10、n(Mg):n(P)=2.5,n(N):n(P)=4;高盐排水中的HCO3-和SO42-离子对磷回收有抑制作用,而Ca2+离子对磷回收有促进作用;XRD和SEM-EDS分析表明,高盐排水回收磷的产物以鸟粪石为主,并夹杂着磷灰石和粘土矿物等杂质.整体上,以高盐排水作为替代镁源回收磷的效果较好,本研究为解决鸟粪石沉淀法的镁源问题提供了一种新思路.     

曝气与投加NaOH对养猪废水厌氧消化液磷回收的影响

以养猪废水厌氧消化液为对象,通过批次实验比较曝气与投加Na OH 2种方式调节废水p H值对磷回收效率的影响,并进一步采用流化床反应器探讨Na OH调节条件下进水流量对氮磷回收的影响。实验结果表明:采用曝气可促使p H值在1 h内迅速升高至8.6;随着曝气时间不断延长,p H值缓慢增长,至12 h达9.1~9.2,此时正磷酸盐(PO3-4-P)回收率达87.25%。投加Na OH调节最佳p H值为9.5,PO3-4-P回收率为85.67%。容积为100 L的搅拌-上向流反应器实验结果表明,当进水流量分别为50、100和150 L/h,在100 L/h流量条件下达到最优,PO3-4-P回收率为80.22%。利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)和扫描电镜及能谱仪(SEM-EDS)对沉淀产物进行表征,可知沉淀产物中含有磷酸铵镁(MAP)和Ca CO3。     

牛骨粉为晶种的磷酸钙结晶法回收污泥发酵液中磷

以牛骨粉为晶种材料,研究不同的反应条件对磷酸钙结晶法回收污泥碱性发酵液中磷的影响。结果表明,最优反应条件为:搅拌时间2 h,pH=10.0,Ca/P摩尔比2.0,在此条件下,发酵液的浓度升高会降低磷的回收率,且成线性关系。运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、EDX元素分析等测试方法分析晶体的组分,并与其他晶种的效果作对比,结果表明,以牛骨粉为晶种,产生的羟基磷酸钙晶体纯度更高。在实验得到的最优条件下进行流化床小试实验,可得以牛骨粉为晶种的磷酸钙结晶法磷的回收率可达89.8%,验证了以牛骨粉为晶种回收污泥发酵液中的磷在小试水平上的可行性。     

污泥厌氧消化液中碳酸盐对回收磷的影响

为探讨污泥厌氧消化液中碳酸盐对以磷酸钙盐形式回收磷的影响,以粉煤灰浸出液为钙源,考察了消化液中的碳酸盐对磷回收过程和磷回收产物性质的影响。实验结果表明,在反应pH为10、反应钙磷摩尔比为1.67、反应时间为10 m in的条件下,消化液碳酸盐浓度为2 400 mg/L(以CaCO3计)时,磷的回收率为78.53%,回收产物中磷含量(以P2O5计)为28.93%;对消化液进行盐酸预酸化使pH达到4及以下时,磷回收率接近100%,回收产物中磷含量(以P2O5计)达到43.08%。消化液中碳酸盐的存在易形成碳酸钙沉淀,从而降低了磷回收率、回收产物中磷含量以及回收产品的纯度;预酸化能够有效地去除消化液中的碳酸盐并降低了其对磷回收的不利影响。     

城市生活垃圾焚烧炉渣对水质除磷效果研究

城市生活垃圾经过焚烧后的炉渣具有广阔的利用前景,是一种较为理想的磷聚填料。研究了磷初始浓度、pH、炉渣粒径以及反应温度对炉渣除磷效果的影响。结果表明:(1)炉渣对KH_2PO_4溶液中的磷具有较好的去除效果,最佳反应时间为3.0h;(2)磷脱除量随磷初始浓度的增加而增加,而磷的去除率呈降低趋势;(3)磷脱除量随pH的增加呈先降低后增加趋势,酸性条件下炉渣对磷具有较高的去除效果;炉渣颗粒越小,对磷的吸附去除效果越好;(4)炉渣对磷的吸附符合Langmuir和Freundlich等温吸附方程,相关系数均达显著水平,且Langmuir等温吸附方程拟合效果更优;(5)炉渣中的磷形态主要为钙结合态磷(包括Ca_2-P、Ca_8-P、Ca_(10)-P)、铝结合态磷(Al-P)和铁结合态磷(Fe-P),其中以Ca_(10)-P形态最多(78.96%)。     

CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂降解海水养殖废水中盐酸四环素

为降解海水养殖废水中盐酸四环素,采用沉淀法自制CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、紫外—可见漫反射(UV-Vis DRS)等表征手段对其进行表征,得到CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂的粒径、外貌特征以及光吸收范围。可见光照射下,考察了CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂投加量、煅烧温度、掺杂比(ZnO和CuO摩尔比)、过氧化氢浓度、反应时间以及盐酸四环素初始浓度6项因素对光催化降解海水养殖废水中盐酸四环素的影响。通过正交试验得到CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂降解盐酸四环素的优化反应条件为:海水养殖废水中含有的盐酸四环素初始质量浓度为0.025g/L,过氧化氢质量浓度为0.5g/L,掺杂比为10∶1,煅烧温度为550℃,CuO/ZnO复合光催化剂投加量为0.15g/L,可见光下反应3.5h。在此条件下海水养殖废水中盐酸四环素的平均去除率可达93.01%。     

白云石石灰结晶流化床污水除磷工艺优化

为了获取优化的污水除磷工艺,基于前期对白云石石灰结晶流化床去除厌氧消化上清液中磷的工艺条件和参数的初步探究,考察了不同酸化程度下白云石石灰释放Mg2+、Ca2+的效果,并根据MAP反应特点,选择出酸化液体积为5、6.5和10 m L,分别对应n(Mg)/n(P)为0.6、1.4、2.2进行后续实验。利用响应面法(RSM)对白云石石灰结晶流化床强化除磷工艺的影响因素进行分析和探讨,考察了p H值、n(Mg)/n(P)与停留时间(HRT)(分别记为X1、X2、X3)及各因素之间交互作用对磷去除率的影响,并利用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射和傅里叶变换红外光谱对产物进行表征,得出最佳工艺参数为p H=9.5、n(Mg)/n(P)=2.2、HRT=3.0 h。RSM法所建立的回归模型显著,实验精准度、精密度和可信度均在合理范围内,回归方程中X1、X2、X3、X1X2、X1X3、X21、X22、X23对磷去除率影响显著。产物MAP晶形较好,但由于废水的碱度较大(20 mmol/L),产物中含有大量的Ca CO3沉淀。     

以废渣磷石膏为原料水热法制备硫酸钙晶须

以磷石膏为原料,采用水热法制备硫酸钙晶须。借助X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及红外光谱仪(FT-IR)等仪器对产物进行表征,研究了反应温度和时间、料浆初始固液比及不同添加剂等因素对产物形貌及可溶磷含量等的影响。结果表明,最佳反应条件为:反应温度140℃,反应时间2 h,料浆固液比为1∶10,最佳添加剂及剂量为丙三醇(V醇/V总液为50%)。所得产物为六方晶系的CaSO4.0.5H2O,直径1～3μm,晶须长径比为45左右,合成率约95%,产物可溶磷含量由原样的0.41%降至0.21%。     

Radionuclides and trace elements in fish collected upstream and downstream of Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the consumption of muscle and bone

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine radionuclide and trace element concentrations in bottom‐feeding fish (catfish, carp, and suckers) collected from the confluences of some of the major canyons that cross Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) lands with the Rio Grande (RG) and the potential radiological doses from the ingestion of these fish. Samples of muscle and bone (and viscera in some cases) were analyzed for ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^totU, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, and ²⁴¹Am and Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cr, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl. Most radionuclides, with the exception of ⁹⁰Sr, in the muscle plus bone portions of fish collected from LANL canyons/RG were not significantly (p<0.05) higher from fish collected upstream (San Ildefonso/background) of LANL. Strontium‐90 in fish muscle plus bone tissue significantly (p<0.05) increases in concentration starting from Los Alamos Canyon, the most upstream confluence (fish contained 3.4E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [126E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]), to Frijoles Canyon, the most downstream confluence (fish contained 14E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [518E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]). The differences in ⁹⁰Sr concentrations in fish collected downstream and upstream (background) of LANL, however, were very small. Based on the average concentrations (±2SD) of radionuclides in fish tissue from the four LANL confluences, the committed effective dose equivalent from the ingestion of 46 lb (21 kg) (maximum ingestion rate per person per year) of fish muscle plus bone, after the subtraction of background, was 0.1 ± 0.1 mrem y^‐1 (1.0 ± 1.0 μSv y^‐1), and was far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1). Of the trace elements that were found above the limits of detection (Ba, Cu, and Hg) in fish muscle collected from the confluences of canyons that cross LANL and the RG, none were in significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations than in muscle of fish collected from background locations.     

Radionuclides in deer and elk from Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the ingestion of muscle and bone

Abstract

This paper summarizes radionuclide concentrations (³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, and ^totU) in muscle and bone tissue of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) collected from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, lands from 1991 through 1998. Also, the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) and the risk of excess cancer fatalities (RECF) to people who ingest muscle and bone from deer and elk collected from LANL lands were estimated. Most radionuclide concentrations in muscle and bone from individual deer (n = 11) and elk (n = 22) collected from LANL lands were either at less than detectable quantities (where the analytical result was smaller than two counting uncertainties) and/or within upper (95%) level background (BG) concentrations. As a group, most radionuclides in muscle and bone of deer and elk from LANL lands were not significantly higher (p<0.10) than in similar tissues from deer (n = 3) and elk (n = 7) collected from BG locations. Also, elk that had been radio collared and tracked for two years and spent an average time of 50% on LANL lands were not significantly different in most radionuclides from road kill elk that have been collected as part of the environmental surveillance program. Overall, the upper (95%) level net CEDEs (the CEDE plus two sigma for each radioisotope minus background) at the most conservative ingestion rate (50 lbs of muscle and 13 lbs of bone) were as follows: deer muscle = 0.22 mrem y^‐1 (2.2 μSv y^‐1), deer bone = 3.8 mrem y^‐1 (38 μSv y^‐1), elk muscle = 0.12 mrem y^‐1 (1.2 μSv y^‐1), and elk bone = 1.7 mrem y^‐1 (17 μSv y^‐1). All CEDEs were far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection guideline of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1), and the highest muscle plus bone net CEDE corresponded to a RECF of 2E‐06, which is far below the Environmental Protection Agency upper level guideline of 1E‐04.     

Leaching of seven pesticides currently used in cotton crop in Mato Grosso State—Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the leaching of pesticides and the applicability of the Attenuation Factor (AF) Model to predict their leaching. The leaching of carbofuran, carbendazim, diuron, metolachlor, α and β endosulfan and chlorpyrifos was studied in an Oxisol using a field experiment lysimeter located in Dom Aquino – Mato Grosso. The samples of percolated water were collected by rain event and analyzed. Chemical and physical soil attributes were determined before pesticide application to the plots. The results showed that carbofuran was the pesticide that presented a higher leaching rate in the studied soil, so was the one representing the highest contamination potential. From the total carbofuran applied in the soil surface, around 6 % leached below 50 cm. The other pesticides showed lower mobility in the studied soil. The calculated values to AF were 7.06E-12 (carbendazim), 5.08E-03 (carbofuran), 3.12E-17 (diuron), 6.66E-345 (α-endosulfan), 1.47E-162 (β-endosulfan), 1.50E-06 (metolachlor), 3.51E-155 (chlorpyrifos). AF Model was useful to classify the pesticides' potential for contamination; however, that model underestimated pesticide leaching.     

Endosulfan in China 2—emissions and residues

Background, aim, and scope  Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and also a candidate to be included in a group of new persistent organic pollutants (UNEP 2007). The first national endosulfan usage inventories in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution has been reported in an accompanying paper. In the second part of the paper, we compiled the gridded historical emissions and soil residues of endosulfan in China from the usage inventories. Based on the residue/emission data, gridded concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese soil and air have been calculated. These inventories will provide valuable data for the further study of endosulfan. Methods  Emission and residue of endosulfan were calculated from endosulfan usage by using a simplified gridded pesticide emission and residue model—SGPERM, which is an integrated modeling system combining mathematical model, database management system, and geographic information system. By using the emission and residue inventories, annual air and soil concentrations of endosulfan in each cell were determined. Results and discussion  Historical gridded emission and residue inventories of α- and β-endosulfan in agricultural soil in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution have been created. Total emissions were around 10,800 t, with α-endosulfan at 7,400 t and β-endosulfan at 3,400 t from 1994 to 2004. The highest residues were 140 t for α-endosulfan and 390 t for β-endosulfan, and the lowest residues were 0.7 t for α-endosulfan and 170 t for β-endosulfan in 2004 in Chinese agricultural soil where endosulfan was applied. Based on the emission and residue inventories, concentrations of α- and β-endosulfan in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were also calculated for each grid cell. We have estimated annual averaged air concentrations and the annual minimum and maximum soil concentrations across China. The real concentrations will be different from season to season. Although our model does not consider the transport of the insecticide in the atmosphere, which could be very important in some areas during some special time, the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil derived from the endosulfan emission and residue inventories are in general consistent with the published monitoring data. Conclusions  To our knowledge, this work is the first inventory of this kind for endosulfan published on a national scale. Concentrations of the chemical in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were calculated for each grid cell. Results show that the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil agree reasonably well with the monitoring data in general. Recommendations and perspectives  The gridded endosulfan emission/residue inventories and also the air and soil concentration inventories created in this study will be updated upon availability of new information, including usage and monitoring data. The establishment of these inventories for the OCP is important for both scientific communities and policy makers.     

Impact of spiked concentrations of Cd,Pb, As and Zn in growth medium on elemental uptake of Nasturtium officinale (Watercress)

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of water quality on the uptake and distribution of three non-essential and toxic elements, namely, As, Cd and Pb in the watercress plant to assess for metal toxicity. The plant was hydroponically cultivated under greenhouse conditions, with the growth medium being spiked with varying concentrations of As, Cd and Pb. Plants that were harvested weekly for elemental analysis showed physiological and morphological symptoms of toxicity on exposure to high concentrations of Cd and Pb. Plants exposed to high concentrations of As did not survive and the threshold for As uptake in watercress was established at 5 ppm. Translocation factors were low in all cases as the toxic elements accumulated more in the roots of the plant than the edible leaves. The impact of Zn on the uptake of toxic elements was also evaluated and Zn was found to have an antagonistic effect on uptake of both Cd and Pb with no notable effect on uptake of As. The findings indicate that phytotoxicity or death of the watercress plant would prevent it from being a route of human exposure to high concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the environment.     

Butyltin compounds in sediment and fish from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea

Concentrations of mono- (MBT), di- (DBT), and tri-(TBT) butyltin compounds were measured in eggs, liver, and muscle of nine species of fish from four regions of the Baltic Sea - the Firth of Vistula, the Gulf of Gdańsk, Puck Bay, and the mouth of the Vistula River. The overall concentration ranges among all the fish sampled from the four sites were: < 7 to 79 ng/g for MBT, 6 to 1100 ng/g for DBT, 7 to 3600 ng/g for TBT, and 16 to 4800 ng/g for total BTs, on a wet wt basis. The highest concentration of total BTs was found in herring liver from the Firth of Vistula (4800 ng/g, wet wt) and in roach muscle from Puck Bay (3300 ng/g, wet wt), while the least concentration was found in burbot eggs and liver from the Vistula River (39 and 32 ng/g, wet wt, respectively). TBT was the major form of BTs present in most samples analyzed. Sediment samples collected from shipyards in the Gulf of Gdańsk contained butyltin concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 46 μg/g (dry wt) for MBT, 2.0 to 42 μg/g for DBT, and 2.6 to 40 μg/g for TBT. As with the fish, the majority of the BTs in sediment were present as TBT, which suggested recent exposure of the aquatic environment of the region to TBT.     

Malathion-induced sublethal toxicity on the hematology of cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)

The effect of malathion [diethyl(dimethoxythiophosphorylthio)succinate] at sublethal concentration (0.006 ppm) on hematological parameters of the cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) was studied for 24 hrs to 240 hrs of exposure and remarkable hematological alterations were observed. The study on hematological parameters revealed a highly significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the total erythrocytes count in malathion-exposed animals from 24 hours to 96 hrs of exposure as compared to control. Significant decreases (P < 0.01) of hemoglobin and packed cell volume were also observed from 48 hrs to 240 hrs. A significant increase (P < 0.01) in leucocytes count was noted throughout the exposure period. Elevated numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils as found in the present study revealed lymphocytosis as well as eosinophilia, suggesting that this was a result of direct stimulation of the immunological defense due to the presence of a toxic substance or may be associated with tissue damage. The cytomorphological and cytopathological study of erythrocytes and leucocytes in malathion-exposed frogs at 0.006 ppm concentration revealed various cytotoxic effects at different exposure times. It was noted that the size and the shape of the erythrocytes were subjected to variation in different blood disorders.     

Relation between forest vegetation, atmospheric deposition and site conditions at regional and European scales

Several monitoring programs have been set up to assess effects of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects on the understorey vegetation, based on the first round of a regional (the Netherlands) and a European forest monitoring program. A multivariate statistical analysis showed surprisingly similar results for both data sets; the vegetation appeared to be largely determined by the ‘traditional’ factors soil, climate, and tree species, but there was a small but statistically significant effect of atmospheric deposition. The effects of deposition include a slight shift towards nitrophytic species at high N deposition in the European network, and towards acidophytic species at high S-deposition in the Dutch network. The relatively small effect of atmospheric deposition is understandable in view of the very large natural variation in environmental conditions. Time series of both vegetation and environment are needed to assess deposition effects in detail.     

Influence of crop residues on trifluralin mineralization in a silty clay loam soil

Trifluralin is typically applied onto crop residues (trash, stubble) at the soil surface, or onto the bare soil surface after the incorporation of crop residues into the soil. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the type and amount of crop residues in soil on trifluralin mineralization in a Wellwood silty clay loam soil. Leaves and stubble of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) (P); Canola (Brassica napus) (C), Wheat (Triticum aestivum) (W), Oats (Avena sativa), (O), and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (A) were added to soil microcosms at rates of 2%, 4%, 8% and 16% of the total soil weight (25 g). The type and amount of crop residues in soil had little influence on the trifluralin first-order mineralization rate constant, which ranged from 3.57E-03 day^?1 in soil with 16% A to 2.89E-02 day^?1 in soil with 8% W. The cumulative trifluralin mineralization at 113 days ranged from 1.15% in soil with 16% P to 3.21% in soil with 4% C, again demonstrating that the observed differences across the treatments are not of agronomic or environmental importance.     

Concurrent nitrate and Fe(III) reduction during anaerobic biodegradation of phenols in a sandstone aquifer

The biodegradation of phenols (5, 60, 600 mg l⁻¹) under anaerobic conditions (nitrate enriched and unamended) was studied in laboratory microcosms with sandstone material and groundwater from within an anaerobic ammonium plume in an aquifer. The aqueous phase was sampled and analyzed for phenols and selected redox sensitive parameters on a regular basis. An experiment with sandstone material from specific depth intervals from a vertical profile across the ammonium plume was also conducted. The miniature microcosms used in this experiment were sacrificed for sampling for phenols and selected redox sensitive parameters at the end of the experiment. The sandstone material was characterized with respect to oxidation and reduction potential and Fe(II) and Fe(III) speciation prior to use for all microcosms and at the end of the experiments for selected microcosms.The redox conditions in the anaerobic microcosms were mixed nitrate and Fe(III) reducing. Nitrate and Fe(III) were apparently the dominant electron acceptors at high and low nitrate concentrations, respectively. When biomass growth is taken into account, nitrate and Fe(III) reduction constituted sufficient electron acceptor capacity for the mineralization of the phenols observed to be degraded even at an initial phenols concentration of 60 mg l⁻¹ (high) in an unamended microcosm, whereas nitrate reduction alone is unlikely to have provided sufficient electron acceptor capacity for the observed degradation of the phenols in the unamended microcosm.For microcosm systems, with solid aquifer materials, dissolution of organic substances from the solid material may occur. A quantitative determination of the speciation (mineral types and quantity) of electron acceptors associated with the solids, at levels relevant for degradation of specific organic compounds in aquifers, cannot always be obtained. Hence, complete mass balances of electron acceptor consumption for specific organic compounds degradation are difficult to confine. For aquifer materials with low initial Fe(II) content, Fe(II) determinations on solids and in aqueous phase samples may provide valuable information on Fe(III) reduction. However, in microcosms with natural sediments and where electron acceptors are associated with the sediments, complete mass-balances for substrates and electron acceptors are not likely to be obtained.