Rapid biotic molecular transformation of fulvic acids in a karst aquifer |
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Authors: | Florian Einsiedl Norbert Hertkorn Moritz Frommberger Boris P. Koch |
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Affiliation: | a Institute of Groundwater Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany b Institute of Ecological Chemistry, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany c Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Ecological Chemistry, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany |
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Abstract: | The study of molecular transformation processes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the environment significantly contributes to a better understanding of the global biogeochemical organic matter cycle. In an oxic karst groundwater system, in which the most powerful abiotic DOC degradative reactions, photodegradation and metal-mediated redox chemistry, are at best marginal contributors, a near complete turnover of fulvic acids (FAs) has been observed within decades (∼60 years). Depletion of oxygen for a very extensive range of aliphatic and aromatic carbon chemical environments has been confirmed as well as the formation of novel classes of compounds, suggesting a major contribution from biotic processes. From these results we infer that FAs must be perceived as a rather active participant in the global carbon cycle. Molecular-level alterations of such magnitude and rapidity on such short-time scales ought to be considered as widespread in the processing of “refractory” DOC in the environment. |
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