生活垃圾焚烧炉渣湿法处理前后化学特性表征

选取4个地区(编号为C、X、N、J)生活垃圾焚烧炉渣及其湿法处理后炉渣(分别称为原生炉渣及集料),针对元素成分、氧化物组分及重金属与溶盐的毒性浸出特性等开展实验分析。结果表明:(1)与原生炉渣对比,集料的化学元素含量变化较大,主要元素Si、Al、C含量均不同程度增加,而Cl、Fe及重金属Zn、Pb、Cr、Cu等含量基本降低;集料中SiO2和Al2O3均明显增加。(2)除C原生炉渣浸出液中Ni(7.62mg/L)严重超标外,其他3种原生炉渣浸出液中Pb、Cu、Ni浸出浓度均低于《危险废物鉴别标准浸出毒性鉴别》(GB 5085.3—2007)中浸出毒性鉴别标准值。与原生炉渣相比,除N集料外,其余集料浸出液中3种重金属(Pb、Cu、Ni)含量基本下降,特别是C集料浸出液中Ni浸出质量浓度下降到低于检测限;集料浸出液中Cl-和SO24-浸出浓度均下降,Cl-浸出质量浓度在C集料浸出液中下降最多,约下降72%,SO24-浸出质量浓度在J集料浸出液中下降最多,约下降86%。     

基于重金属提取的垃圾焚烧飞灰无害化处理

采用加酸浸出工艺对垃圾焚烧飞灰进行无害化处理。研究证明盐酸能有效分离飞灰中重金属,重金属浸出率与盐酸浓度及液固比有关;重金属在实验的盐酸浓度和液固比下都能达到高浸出率,但液固比越低,浸出液中重金属的浓度就越高,越有利于重金属的回收。当盐酸浓度为5 mol·L~(-1)、液固比为2(mL:g)时,Pb、Cd和Zn浸出率均达到95%以上,而Cu的浸出率也达到81.38%,Pb、Cd、Zn和Cu的浓度分别为468.10、78.12、2 268.80和347.78 mg·L~(-1)。残灰采用加盐水洗工艺后,浸出毒性超标的重金属Pb和Cd浸出毒性低于GB 16889-2008标准限值,符合填埋要求。     

针对含砷硫酸烧渣酸浸液的铁盐沉淀固砷

为考察含砷硫酸烧渣中酸浸脱砷效果和铁盐沉淀固砷行为,采用常温常压酸浸法脱除硫酸烧渣中的砷,并对进入浸出液中的砷以铁盐沉淀的形式脱除,进而对沉淀渣的浸出毒性进行研究。同时,研究了磨矿细度、酸浓度、固液比、浸出时间对硫酸烧渣中砷脱除效率的影响。结果表明,通过控制浸出参数可以将硫酸烧渣中砷的质量分数降低到0.2%以下,通过调节浸出液的pH和Fe/As摩尔比将其中的砷以沉淀的形式脱除。当Fe/As 2、pH=4～6时,溶液中砷浓度降到了0.5 mg·L~(-1)以下。沉淀砷渣主要是以非晶态的形式存在,提高铁砷比有利于提高砷渣稳定性,从而降低浸出毒性。在Fe/As=3、pH=6.04～6.22的条件下,得到的沉淀渣的浸出毒性为0.711 mg·L~(-1)。因此,通过酸浸脱除硫酸烧渣中的砷,进而采用铁盐沉淀的方法能够实现硫酸烧渣中砷的安全处置。     

水可溶性有机物在铅锌废渣生态修复中的应用

采用富含水可溶性有机质(water-soluble organic material)的有机废水作改良剂对土法炼锌产生的冶炼废渣进行处理,播种草本植物进行室外盆栽模拟生态修复实验。通过测定冶炼废渣的基本元素组成,水可溶性有机质处理前后冶炼废渣中的肥力指标,植被生长特征,盆栽实验后冶炼废渣雨水淋溶液、水浸浸出液、渣样及植物样品中Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、As和Sb等重金属的含量。结果表明:土法炼锌冶炼废渣中富含Pb和Zn等多种有毒有害重金属污染物,介质养分极端贫瘠且比例不协调。水可溶性有机质处理能够明显改善冶炼废渣中的肥力水平,同时能显著提高冶炼废渣上植物的成活率、株高、生物量及覆盖率;能促进冶炼废渣中多种有害重金属的雨水淋失和水浸溶出;同时能降低植物重金属含量,而提高单位面积上重金属植物富集量。综上,可采用富含水可溶性有机质的有机废水进行铅锌矿渣堆场污染的生态修复。     

含重金属污泥制砖毒性的浸出

污泥中的重金属是影响污泥处置利用的重要因素,污泥制砖可以有效固结重金属。采用污水厂污泥与页岩按一定配比混合制备烧结砖,通过毒性浸出实验,研究烧结砖对重金属的固化程度以及重金属浸出稳定性,从而评定烧结制砖的安全性。结果表明,在浸出液为中性和酸性条件下,Cu、Cr、As和Pb的浸出浓度基本保持稳定,浸出时间的影响不大,而Zn的初始浸出浓度相对较大,最终逐渐降低;碱性条件下,Cr、Cu和Pb的浸出浓度随时间变化不大,而Zn和As的浸出浓度则在浸提时间内无明显变化规律;但不同p H浸出液下的重金属浸出浓度均远低于国家限值,污泥制砖重金属固化效果好,安全可靠。     

锡冶炼含砷烟尘低温陶瓷固化技术

以锡冶炼过程中排放的含砷烟尘为研究对象,对浸出特性和低温陶瓷胶凝材料对其的固化效果进行了研究。结果表明,含砷烟尘As、Cu和Zn毒性浸出浓度分别为6 783、167和224 mg/L,严重超过国家毒性浸出鉴别标准值。其经低温陶瓷胶凝材料固化处理,当含砷烟尘掺量小于40%,自然养护3 d,As、Cu和Zn毒性浸出浓度急剧降低,且低于国家标准值。XRD和SEM分析表明,低温陶瓷胶凝材料在复合化学激发剂作用下,反应生成类沸石水化铝硅酸盐矿物(Al-O-Si);固化体中Ca-Fe-As-O盐是As固化的主要矿物相。Cu2+、Zn2+替换铝硅酸盐聚合物结构中的Na+、K+保持平衡电荷。胶凝材料水化产物填充于材料颗粒间,使其连接成一致密整体,有效降低了有害物质的毒性浸出浓度。     

垃圾焚烧飞灰中不同粒径的毒性特性

对广州市某垃圾焚烧发电厂的焚烧飞灰进行粒径分级毒性分析研究。主要研究了粒径在35～1 000μm范围内的飞灰的腐蚀性和短期浸出毒性,包括Cr、Cd、Mg、Pb、Mn、Fe、Cu、Zn、Ni、Co等重金属,SO24-,Cl-,NO3--N和NO2--N,同时也研究了飞灰的物质组成和矿物特性。研究结果表明,所有粒径飞灰的浸出液pH值在12.3～12.5之间,属于有腐蚀性的危险废物,重金属Mg、Pb、Zn的浸出浓度最高,分别为168.78、53.94和86.40 mg/L。飞灰浸出液和含量最高分别达到8.87g/L和1.38 g/L,同时浸出液中测出一定量的硝态氮和亚硝态氮,证明飞灰吸附了垃圾焚烧过程中产生的氮氧化物气体。另外,研究得出飞灰的基本组成元素为Ca、Si、Cl、K、Na、S、Al、Mg和Fe,而重金属则以Zn、Pb、Mn、Cu、Cr等为主。矿物相主要为含硅和钙的化合物及NaCl和KCl等氯化物。     

EDTA/纳米羟基磷灰石联合修复重金属污染土壤

土壤淋洗可能导致残留重金属活化,采用淋洗/钝化联合修复重金属污染土壤可在一定程度上减少这一影响。研究了EDTA淋洗、纳米羟基磷灰石钝化及两者联合修复对土壤重金属洗脱率、TCLP浸出浓度、化学形态分布的影响,构建了涵盖土壤重金属残留量、生物有效性和生理毒性的环境风险评价方法,对淋洗、钝化及其联合修复进行了评价。结果发现,EDTA淋洗对Pb和Cu的洗脱效果较好,对Zn浸出浓度的削减率较高。当EDTA投加量为2 g·L~(-1)时,Zn的浸出浓度降低了70.40%。纳米羟基磷灰石对Pb和Zn具有较好的钝化效果,对Cu和Cd的钝化作用相对较弱。当纳米羟基磷灰石投加量为2%时,Pb浸出浓度削减率高达89.65%。淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度降低了Pb和Cd的浸出浓度,降低了可还原态Cu残留量、可还原态和残渣态Cd残留量,以及弱酸提取态和可还原态Zn、Pb残留量。当EDTA和纳米羟基磷灰石投加量分别为1 g·L~(-1)和1%时,土壤重金属总环境风险削减率达到74.12%。EDTA对土壤中Cu和Cd的洗脱效果较好,后续钝化修复作用有限,Pb和Zn则可通过淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度提高削减环境风险削减率。     

2种浸取程序下炉渣重金属浸出特性

对锅炉煤渣、高炉煤渣、流化床焚烧渣和炉排焚烧渣4种炉渣样品进行了分级,研究炉渣典型重金属(Cu、Zn、Cr、Cd、Pb)含量,以及基于水平振荡浸出程序(HVEP)和毒性特性浸出程序(TCLP)浸取程序的重金属浸出特性,为炉渣的资源化利用模式提供科学依据。结果表明,2种浸取程序下,4种炉渣的重金属浸出浓度远低于浸出毒性限值,其中,炉排焚烧渣中典型重金属(Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd)浸出量最大,高炉煤渣最小;HVEP方法下,2 mm粒级炉渣对重金属浸出总量的贡献较大,TCLP方法下则为2~6 mm粒径段;高炉煤渣和流化床焚烧渣可作为基质应用于潜流园林湿地污水处理系统,但不适宜于酸雨区。     

硫酸锰废渣的浸出毒性及处理研究

研究了硫酸锰废渣的主要金属元素组成及浸出毒性,并采用锰渣加石灰混合的方法进行无害化处理,研究结果表明,硫酸锰废渣浸出液中Mn、Cd超标,锰渣加石灰混合处理的方法能有效降低废渣的浸出毒性,锰渣与石灰的重量比为25:2最佳.     

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.