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Lack of correlation between organic acid concentrations and predominant electron-accepting processes in a contaminated aquifer

D.A. Vroblesky·P. M. Bradley·F. H. Chapelle
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Abstract

Long-term (1992-1995) monitoring data from a petroleum hydrocarbon- contaminated aquifer were used to examine the hypothesis that concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) aliphatic organic acids reflect terminal electron-accepting processes. During the period of study, concentrations of dissolved hydrogen (H2) indicated that methanogenic, sulfate-reducing, and iron(III)-reducing conditions predominated at the site. However, there was no correlation between LMW organic acid concentrations and concentrations of dissolved H2. These results indicate that organic acid concentrations are not a reliable indicator of local redox conditions at this site.

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D.A. Vroblesky, P. M. Bradley, F. H. Chapelle. 1997-04-29. Lack of correlation between organic acid concentrations and predominant electron-accepting processes in a contaminated aquifer. https://doi.org/10.1021/es960662h

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