磷酸微波活化多孔生物质炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附特性简

以甘蔗渣为原料，采用微波辅助H₃PO₄活化法制备富含含氧酸官能团的中孔生物质炭。通过扫描电子显微镜SEM、傅立叶变换红外光谱FT-IR等技术对生物质炭物理化学性质进行表征，并通过静态实验法，探讨炭样对亚甲基蓝的吸附行为及热力学性质。结果表明，H₃PO₄活化制备蔗渣生物质炭的适宜条件为浸渍比1：1，烘干时间10 h，活化功率900 W，活化时间22 min，在此条件下制得的生物质炭得率为39.2%，碘值为817 mg/g，亚甲基蓝值为229 mg/g，为国家一级品标准的1.7倍。红外光谱分析表明，炭样表面以羟基、羰基、羧基等酸性官能团为主。静态吸附实验表明，Freundlich方程与Redlich-Peterson方程能较好地描述等温吸附行为，表现为优惠吸附。热力学研究表明，吸附吉布斯自由能（ΔG⁰）<0，说明吸附反应是自发过程，而吸附标准焓变（ΔH⁰）>70 KJ/mol，表明亚甲基蓝在制备炭样上的吸附是吸热反应，升温有利于吸附，且化学反应在吸附过程中发挥了重要作用。     

磷酸微波活化多孔生物质炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附特性

以甘蔗渣为原料，采用微波辅助H3PO4活化法制备富含含氧酸官能团的中孔生物质炭。通过扫描电子显微镜SEM、傅立叶变换红外光谱FT-IR等技术对生物质炭物理化学性质进行表征，并通过静态实验法，探讨炭样对亚甲基蓝的吸附行为及热力学性质。结果表明，H3PO4活化制备蔗渣生物质炭的适宜条件为浸渍比1：1，烘干时间10h，活化功率900W，活化时间22min，在此条件下制得的生物质炭得率为39．2％，碘值为817mg／g，亚甲基蓝值为229mg／g，为国家一级品标准的1．7倍。红外光谱分析表明，炭样表面以羟基、羰基、羧基等酸性官能团为主。静态吸附实验表明，Freundlich方程与Redlich—Peterson方程能较好地描述等温吸附行为，表现为优惠吸附。热力学研究表明，吸附吉布斯自由能（△G0）〈0，说明吸附反应是自发过程，而吸附标准焓变（△H0）〉70KJ／mol，表明亚甲基蓝在制备炭样上的吸附是吸热反应，升温有利于吸附，且化学反应在吸附过程中发挥了重要作用。     

KOH活化花生壳生物质炭对亚甲基蓝吸附性能研究

以花生壳生物质炭(P-BC)为原料,KOH为活化剂,采用化学活化法制得活化生物质炭(K-BC),通过考察对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能,研究了花生壳生物质炭的最佳活化条件,并利用N2吸附-脱附实验、SEM等对最佳活化条件下的生物质炭进行表征。结果表明,K-BC活化的最佳条件为碱炭比为1.5∶1,活化温度为800℃,活化时间为90 min,此时K-BC的比表面积达到597.93 m2/g,总孔容达到0.76 cm3/g。并考察了亚甲基蓝初始浓度、pH等对K-BC吸附亚甲基蓝的影响,随着初始浓度的增加,吸附平衡时间显著延长,亚甲基蓝去除率显著降低;当pH=6时,K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附量最大;K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附动力学曲线符合伪二阶动力学模型,吸附平衡时K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附能力为80~149.95 mg/g。     

酸改性泥炭对含亚甲基蓝废水的吸附净化作用

采用稀硝酸对泥炭进行改性处理获得酸改性泥炭,并将其用于处理亚甲基蓝废水。考察初始溶液pH、接触时间、酸改性泥炭投加量和亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度等因素对酸改性泥炭吸附效果影响。结果表明,初始溶液pH、接触时间、酸改性泥炭投加量和亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度对酸改性泥炭吸附性能都有一定的影响。在最佳的反应条件下(接触时间为60 min,反应温度为35℃,初始溶液pH为7.12,酸改性泥炭投加量为2 g),亚甲基蓝去除率可达90.88%,其吸附较好地符合Freundlich和Langmuir等温方程,拟合相关系数均大于0.9。通过热力学计算发现,ΔG<0、ΔS>0,表明该吸附反应是自发的、吸热反应。且该吸附过程符合准二级动力学方程(R2=0.98)。     

氯化钙改性凹凸棒处理亚甲基蓝废水的研究

采用氯化钙改性凹凸棒,并对其进行了透射电镜、红外光谱分析。用改性后的凹凸棒泥浆处理亚甲基蓝废水,讨论了动力学和热力学吸附性质。结果表明:(1)利用氯化钙改性凹凸棒,泥浆粘度在21Pa.s条件下对亚甲基蓝废水的吸附动力学和热力学性质进行了研究。在研究范围内,改性凹凸棒泥浆对亚甲基蓝的吸附符合准二级反应动力学方程,并且Langmuir等温方程能更好地描述吸附过程。(2)改性凹凸棒泥浆对亚甲基蓝的平衡吸附量随亚甲基蓝初始浓度的增加而增大,随pH的增大而减小。(3)改性凹凸棒泥浆对亚甲基蓝主要以表面吸附为主。ΔG00、ΔH00表明吸附过程可以自发进行,并且为放热反应。ΔS00意味着随温度的增加,改性凹凸棒泥浆对亚甲基蓝的吸附趋于有序性。     

黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝和甲基橙吸附动力学

以黄麻纤维为原料，采用磷酸活化法制备活性炭。研究黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝和甲基橙2种染料的吸附行为。结果表明，采用磷酸制备的活性炭，由于表面含有羧基和含磷官能团等酸性基团，能够促进活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附；黄麻纤维活性炭对2种染料的平衡吸附量、初始吸附速率均随着初始浓度的增加而升高；相同条件下，黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝的平衡吸附量大于甲基橙；黄麻纤维活性炭对两种染料的吸附行为更符合准二级动力学模型。     

稻壳基活性炭的制备及其对亚甲基蓝吸附的研究

以稻壳为原料，采用K2CO3活化法和H3P04活化法制备了比表面积为1312m^2／g和682m^2／g的活性炭，通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X-射线衍射仪（XRD）对样品进行了表征，并将孔隙发达的活性炭样品用于对亚甲基蓝的吸附，结果表明，K2CO3活化法制备的活性炭样品具有更多的微孔结构；随着亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度的增加、活性炭吸附时间的延长，亚甲基蓝的去除率呈现逐渐降低和逐渐增大的变化规律，当pH值为6时，活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附效果最佳；稻壳基活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附等温线符合Langmuir模型，Qm最高可达476．2mg／g；热力学参数△G^0△H^0和△S^0均为负值，表明稻壳基活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附是一个自发的放热反应。     

棉秆基活性炭的制备及其对2,4-二硝基苯酚的吸附

以棉秆为原料，以KOH为活化剂，制备了高比表面棉秆基生物质活性炭。分析了制得的活性炭的元素组成、表面官能团、吸附能力等物化性能，探讨了浸渍比，活化温度，活化时间等工艺参数对制备活性炭得率、表面官能团、碘值、亚甲基蓝值等性能的影响，并通过静态吸附实验比较了不同条件下制备活性炭对2，4-二硝基苯酚的吸附性能，探讨了典型炭样品对2，4-二硝基苯酚的等温吸附特性。结果表明，KOH活化棉秆基生物质活性炭的表面物化性质随浸渍比、活化温度等工艺参数变化而变化，活化适宜条件为浸渍比1：3、活化温度800℃、活化时间90 min，在此条件下制得的炭样的碘值为1 251 mg/g，亚甲基蓝吸附值为478 mg/g，分别是国家一级品标准的1.25倍与3.54倍；对2，4-二硝基苯酚的Langmuir最大吸附量为747 mg/g，与Freundlich模型相比，Langmuir模型能较好地描述2，4-二硝基苯酚在炭样上的吸附行为，表明制备活性炭样品表面吸附位的能量分布较为均一。     

NaOH活化栗苞生物质炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能

以栗苞炭化料(C-BC)为原料,以NaOH为活化剂制备栗苞活化生物质炭(Na-BC),研究其对水中亚甲基蓝的吸附行为。选取炭碱比、活化温度和活化时间为影响因素,通过正交试验确定了最佳活化工艺,即炭碱比为1∶4,活化温度为800℃,活化时间为30 min,此时Na-BC的最大吸附量为609.38 mg·g~(-1)。对最优条件下制备的生物质炭进行SEM、BET等表征,比表面积达1 563.78 m~2·g~(-1),总孔容达1.452 cm~3·g~(-1)。吸附实验结果显示,吸附反应能较好用Langmuir模型和准二级动力学方程模型进行模拟,Na-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附为自发吸热反应。通过热法与碱法再生处理饱和吸附生物质炭,再生后的Na-BC对亚甲基蓝具有较好的吸附能力。     

城镇有机垃圾热解生物炭对水中亚甲基蓝的吸附

热解是一项极具前景的城镇垃圾资源化处理技术,对热解产物的合理利用有助于热解技术的推广应用。以1套垃圾分选、热解工程设备产生的生物炭为原料,研究生物炭对水中亚甲基蓝的吸附效果,分析吸附动力学和吸附等温线;通过红外光谱、比表面积、孔径及微观形貌的表征方法阐释其吸附机理,并进行经济性分析。结果表明,生物炭对亚甲基蓝的去除率随生物炭投加量的增加而增加,随亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度的增加而降低,在pH为9时达到最高。生物炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附过程符合准二级动力学方程和Langmuir吸附等温线方程,为单分子层吸附,最大吸附量为35.7 mg·g~(-1)。生物炭具有较强的非均质性,其对亚甲基蓝的吸附主要发生在微孔中,且亚甲基蓝与生物炭表面的O—H、NH~(3+)、NH_2、C—O等基团发生了作用,说明亚甲基蓝在生物炭表面的吸附受生物炭孔结构和化学性质2个方面的影响。生物炭的制备过程可产生446～708元·t~(-1)的经济效益,作为废水处理的吸附剂具有较好的应用前景。     

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.