Rapid biotic molecular transformation of fulvic acids in a karst aquifer

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Publication Date

November 2007

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.

Keywords

Dissolved Organic Carbon, Doc, Refractory, Biotic Molecular Transformation, Fulvic Acids, Karst Aquifer

Document Type

Article

Notes

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 71, no. 22 (2007-11-15).

Identifier

SFS0055891_00001

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