溴化十六烷基吡啶改性沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附

采用溴化十六烷基吡啶(CPB)对天然沸石进行改性制备得到了CPB改性沸石,通过批量吸附实验考察了CPB改性沸石对水中阴离子染料甲基橙的去除作用。结果表明,天然沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附能力很差,而CPB改性沸石则可以有效吸附去除水中的甲基橙。CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附能力随CPB负载量的增加而增加,CPB负载量最大的改性沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附能力最强。双分子层CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的去除率随吸附剂投加量的增加而增加,而CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的单位吸附量则随吸附剂投加量的增加而降低。双分子层CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附平衡数据可以采用Langmuir等温吸附模型加以描述。根据Langmuir模型计算得到的CPB负载量为341 mmol/(kg沸石)的双分子层CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的最大吸附容量为63.7 mg/g(303 K和pH 7)。准二级动力学模型适合用于描述双分子层CPB改性沸石对水中甲基橙的吸附动力学过程。pH和反应温度对双分子层CPB改性沸石吸附水中甲基橙的影响较小。以上结果说明,双分子层CPB改性沸石适合作为一种吸附剂用于去除废水中的甲基橙。     

壳聚糖-沸石杂化膜的制备及其对甲基橙的吸附

采用物理共混法制备了壳聚糖-沸石杂化膜,用扫描电镜(SEM)和热重分析仪(TGA)对其进行表征,并系统地研究了壳聚糖-沸石杂化膜对甲基橙的吸附行为。结果表明,最佳质量配比为(沸石/壳聚糖)为1∶20;pH值对吸附的影响最为关键,在实验浓度的范围内对甲基橙溶液最大吸附量为974.05 mg/g。杂化膜对甲基橙的等温吸附行为符合Lang-muir模型,吸附动力学模式符合准二级动力学方程,考虑以化学吸附行为为主。杂化膜有良好的再生能力。     

沸石对降雨径流中氨氮的吸附特性

城市面源污染是重要水体污染源之一,降雨发生时,雨水径流会携带累积在路面、屋面的含有机物、氮磷、重金属等污染物质进入水体,其中氮磷是造成水体富营养化的重要因素。针对这一情况,采用不同种类沸石,对雨水径流中的氮磷进行了吸附研究,着重考察了沸石对氨氮的吸附动力学,吸附等温线特征,并考察了p H、共存阳离子以及COD对吸附能力的影响。结果表明,Na型改性沸石吸附性能优于其他2种,饱和吸附量达到9.09 mg/g,沸石的吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型。Mg2+、Ca2+对Na型改性沸石的影响较大,Na型改性沸石吸附氨氮的适宜p H为5~8。本研究为探索用物化方法来处理雨水提供了依据,Na型改性沸石可以作为吸附雨水中氨氮的优选吸附剂。     

阳离子表面活性剂改性油茶果壳对水溶液中甲基橙的吸附

以阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)对油茶果壳进行改性,制备CTAB-油茶果壳(CTABCOS)吸附材料,并采用批实验法对其对水溶液中甲基橙的吸附去除进行了研究。考察了溶液p H、吸附剂用量和离子强度等对水溶液中甲基橙的吸附影响,并研究了体系的吸附动力学和吸附热力学特征。结果表明,向100 m L浓度为50 mg/L的甲基橙溶液中加入0.40 g CTAB-COS,在最佳实验条件下,CTAB-COS对甲基橙的去除率可达96.66%。溶液离子强度增大,甲基橙去除率降低。CTAB-COS对甲基橙的吸附行为符合拟二级动力学模型,吸附等温线可用Langmuir模型进行较好拟合,在20℃时最大吸附量为18.31 mg/g。吸附热力学结果表明,吸附过程为可自发进行的放热过程。再生性实验结果表明,再生6次后,CTAB-COS对甲基橙的吸附去除率仍可达到80%。该改性油茶果壳可应用于阴离子型染料废水的吸附法处理。     

十六烷基三甲基溴化铵改性沸石对腐殖酸的吸附性能研究

以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)为改性剂,制备了CTAB改性沸石,并用于对腐殖酸的吸附性能研究。考察了pH、吸附时间及腐殖酸初始浓度对CTAB改性沸石吸附腐殖酸的影响,采用吸附等温方程和反应动力学方程进行拟合分析,并利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)、傅立叶转换红外光谱分析仪(FTIR)对沸石改性前后进行结构表征。结果表明,在温度为25℃、转速为200r/min的条件下,选择pH为7.0、腐殖酸初始质量浓度为10mg/L、吸附时间为180min,此时CTAB改性沸石对腐殖酸的平衡吸附容量为0.16mg/g。相比Freundlich吸附等温方程(R2=0.967),CTAB改性沸石对腐殖酸的吸附更符合Langmuir吸附等温方程(R2=0.998),吸附机制为单分子层吸附。准一级反应动力学方程和准二级反应动力学方程均可以描述CTAB改性沸石对腐殖酸的吸附(R2=0.978)。吸附实验后的CTAB改性沸石上出现了甲基、亚甲基、羟基与羰基伸缩振动吸收峰,说明沸石已负载了CTAB,且腐殖酸已被CTAB改性沸石吸附。     

松果活性炭对有机染料的吸附

以松果为原料,利用ZnCl2活化法和FeCl3改性剂进行活性炭的制备和改性,测定了松果活性炭的比表面积,并研究其对甲基橙染料的吸附性能。结果表明:改性后的松果活性炭比表面积达到681 m2·g~(-1),并以中孔为主,有利于大分子有机染料的吸附;当松果活性炭的投加量为0.3 g·L~(-1)、吸附30 min、甲基橙初始浓度100 mg·L~(-1)、pH=7以及25℃温度条件下,吸附效果最佳,甲基橙去除率高达99.41%;Langmuir模型比Freundlich模型能更好地描述甲基橙染料的吸附行为,说明吸附以表面单层覆盖为主;吸附动力学符合Lagergren准二级动力学方程,R2大于0.999。可为松果的开发利用和制备低成本、高吸附性的吸附剂提供参考。     

NaCl改性沸石对氨氮吸附性能的研究

采用NaCl溶液对天然沸石进行改性,考察了NaCl浓度、温度及沸石用量对改性效果的影响。通过表面特征分析、吸附机制分析、吸附等温试验和吸附动力学试验,进一步比较了天然沸石和改性沸石对氨氮的吸附性能。结果表明,在NaCl溶液为6%(质量分数)、温度为303 K、天然沸石用量为15 g(以100 mL的NaCl溶液计)的优化条件下,改性沸石对氨氮的吸附效果最佳。扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和比表面积(BET)分析可知,沸石经改性后表面变粗糙,平均吸附孔径变小,比表面积变大。2种沸石对氨氮的吸附过程均可用Langmuir、Freundlich吸附等温方程较好地拟合,在温度为303 K时,改性沸石比天然沸石单分子层饱和吸附量增幅为34%以上。颗粒内扩散是沸石吸附氨氮的限制性因素,其吸附动力学较符合准二级反应动力学方程,拟合结果表明改性沸石具有更好的动力学性能,其吸附速率常数略大于天然沸石。     

热改性斜发沸石对富营养化水体的脱氮除磷效果

氮、磷是导致水体富营养化且又较难去除的一类物质。实验采用模拟的方法研究了天然沸石和不同温度改性沸石的脱氮除磷效果。结果表明,天然沸石对氮、磷静态吸附去除率分别达71%和91%。随着改性温度的升高,350℃改性沸石振荡吸附氮、磷效果最好,较之天然沸石提高了18%,改性温度继续上升则呈下降趋势。不同沸石对氮、磷的吸附特征可用一级动力学方程进行描述,其中350℃改性沸石对氮、磷的吸附特征在不同的固液比情况下均符合一级动力学方程。     

改性沸石对水中微量汞的吸附性能

为了更好的去除水体中微量汞,研究了采用二氧化锰和壳聚糖对天然斜发沸石进行改性,着重考察了pH、温度、离子强度、Hg~(2+)初始浓度和时间对改性前后沸石吸附Hg~(2+)的影响,并研究了其吸附机理。结果表明,改性沸石受pH、温度和离子强度影响较小,在pH、温度、离子强度和初始浓度为6、25℃、0.05 mol·L~(-1)和50μg·L~(-1)时,二氧化锰+壳聚糖改性沸石(ZCM)对Hg~(2+)的去除率高达99%,符合国家饮用水标准,并且二氧化锰+壳聚糖改性沸石(ZCM)具有更好的解吸再生性。3种沸石均较好的符合Langmuir等温吸附模型和假二级动力学模型,其中改性沸石对汞的吸附主要为离子交换和表面官能团的络合作用,二氧化锰+壳聚糖改性沸石(ZCM)和壳聚糖改性沸石(ZC)饱和吸附量由1.43 mg·g~(-1)提高到5和3.3 mg·g~(-1),吸附平衡时间由10 h减少至1和4 h,为治理汞微污染地表水提供一定的理论支持。     

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。     

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.