wAbstract
@Ground water systems dominated by iron- or sulfate-reducing conditions
may be distinguished by observing concentrations of dissolved
iron (Fe2+) and sulfide (sum of H2S,
HS-, and S2- species and denoted here as
gH2Sh). This approach is based on the observation
that concentrations of Fe2+ and H2S
in ground water systems tend to be inversely related according
to a hyperbolic function. That is, when Fe2+ concentrations
are high, H2S concentrations tend to be low
and vice versa. This relation partly reflects the rapid reaction
kinetics of Fe2+ with H2S to produce
relatively insoluble ferrous sulfides (FeS). This relation also
reflects competition for organic substrates between the iron-
and the sulfate-reducing microorganisms that catalyze the production
of Fe2+ and H2S. These solubility
and microbial constraints operate in tandem, resulting in the
observed hyperbolic relation between Fe2+ and H2S concentrations. Concentrations of redox indicators,
including dissolved hydrogen (H2) measured
in a shallow aquifer in Hanahan, South Carolina, suggest that
if the Fe2+/H2S mass ratio (units
of mg/L) exceeded 10, the screened interval being tapped was consistently
iron reducing (H2 `0.2 to 0.8 nM). Conversely,
if the Fe2+/H2S ratio was less
than 0.30, consistent sulfate-reducing (H2
`1 to 5 nM) conditions were observed over time. Concomitantly
high Fe2+ and H2S concentrations
were associated with H2 concentrations that
varied between 0.2 and 5.0 nM over time, suggesting mixing of
water from adjacent iron- and sulfate-reducing zones or concomitant
iron and sulfate reduction under nonelectron donor-limited conditions.
These observations suggest that Fe2+/H2S
mass ratios may provide useful information concerning the occurrence
and distribution of iron and sulfate reduction in ground water
systems.x
Introduction
Methods
Hyperbolic relation between Fe2+ and H2S
concentrations
Distinguishing iron from sulfate reduction
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References