『Abstract
This study focuses on denitrification in a sandy aquifer using
geochemical analyses of both sediment and groundwater, combined
with groundwater age dating (3H/3He). The
study sites are located underneath cultivated fields and an adjacent
forested area at Oostrum, The Netherlands. Shallow groundwater
in the region has high nitrate concentrations (up to 8 mM) due
to intense fertilizer application. Nitrate removal from the groundwater
below cultivated fields correlates with sulfate production, and
the release of dissolved Fe2+ and pyrite-associated
trace metals (e.g. As, Ni, Co and Zn). These results, and the
presence of pyrite in the sediment matrix within the nitrate removal
zone, indicate that denitrification coupled to pyrite oxidation
is a major process in the aquifer. significant nitrate loss coupled
to sulfate production is further confirmed by comparing historical
estimates of regional sulfate and nitrate loadings to age-dated
groundwater sulfate and nitrate concentrations, for the period
1950-2000. However, the observed increases in sulfate concentration
are about 50% lower than would be expected from complete oxidation
of pyrite to sulfate, possibly due to the accumulation of intermediate
oxidation state sulfur compounds, such as elemental sulfur. Pollutant
concentrations (NO3, Cl, As, Co and Ni) measured
in the groundwater beneath the agricultural areas in 1006 and
2006 show systematic decreases most likely due to declining fertilizer
use.』
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Sampling location
2.2. Sample collection and chemical analyses
3. Results
3.1. Groundwater and sediment geochemistry
3.2. Groundwater ages
4. Discussion
4.1. Groundwater ages
4.2. Denitrification coupled to pyrite oxidation
4.3. Temporal changes
4.4. Net reaction stoichiometry
4.5. Denitrification rates
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Appendix A. Supplementary data
References