溶解氧对晚期垃圾渗滤液短程硝化及微生物群落结构变化的影响

以上海老港垃圾填埋场配套污水处理设施中的污泥为菌种源,在序批式活性污泥反应器(SBR)中对晚期垃圾渗滤液进行短程硝化处理,调节SBR中溶解氧浓度,考察溶解氧对渗滤液短程硝化的影响,分析不同溶解氧条件下污泥微生物群落结构的变化.结果表明,低溶解氧(0.2～0.5 mg/L)条件下,SBR可以获得较高的短程硝化效率,反应17h后,SBR内亚硝态氮/氨氮(质量比)为1.05,氨氮负荷可达到1.5 kg/(kg·d)(以每千克污泥悬浮固体每天承担的氨氮计),出水可以满足后续厌氧氨氧化处理的要求.从污泥变形梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)图谱中可以看出,SBR微生物群落结构中主要优势种有uncultured Bacteroidetes bacterium、uncultured bacterium、uncultured Candidatus Amoebophilus sp.等.随着溶解氧含量的升高,SBR内微生物群落结构的多样性有所升高,但溶解氧对微生物群落结构影响有限.     

HRT和SRT对AO工艺去除四环素及耐药菌的影响

研究了不同水力停留时间(HRT)和污泥龄(SRT)条件下四环素(TC)和四环素耐药菌(tetracycline resistant bacteria,TRB)在AO工艺各池中的变化情况,并在最优工况下,用宏基因组16s DNA技术测定了各池微生物群落特征。结果表明,HRT的延长对TC的去除率影响不大,在90%左右。SRT从5 d延长到20 d时,TC的去除率从81.8%升高到90.9%。适当的延长HRT和SRT有利于减少TRB的数量。AO各池的四环素耐药菌优势菌属于Proteobacteria(变形菌门)和Bacteroidetes(拟杆菌门)。     

16S rDNA克隆文库分析含硫污水生物反应器中生物群落

利用生物脱硫技术处理炼油厂含硫污水,硫化物选择性地氧化成单质硫。在进水硫化物605.3 mg·L~(-1)的条件下,硫化物去除率90.7%,单质硫生成率达到80.8%。提取反应器中的DNA样本,构建16S rDNA克隆文库对反应器中的生物群落进行分析。对51个阳性克隆子(长度约为1 400 bp)进行测序,测序结果在NCBI数据库利用Blast比对并构建系统发育树。测序结果表明,生物脱硫反应器细菌种群可分为10个类群,数量最多的是γ-变形菌(γ-Proteobacteria)占76.6%,其余类群共占23.4%。γ-Proteobacteria类群中数量最多的是具有脱硫功能的Halothiobacillus sp.(66.7%)、Thiovirga sp.(25.6%)以及Pseudomonas sp.(7.7%)。系统发育树分析结果表明,生物脱硫系统中形成了以化能自养型脱硫菌为主的微生物群落结构,异养菌数量较少。     

A2/O工艺缺氧池中反硝化聚磷菌的比例、特性研究及菌株鉴定

用释磷/聚磷装置和微生物筛选、分离方法研究A2/O工艺缺氧池污泥,确定缺氧池中反硝化聚磷菌(DPB)的比例,筛选、分离得反硝化聚磷单菌株且对单菌株聚磷特性进行研究.结果表明,缺氧池中DPB占聚磷菌(PAO)的比例约为21.5%.从缺氧池分离得到的肠杆菌科、气单胞菌属和假单胞菌属都是DPB,而不动杆菌属仅是好氧PAO,葡萄球菌属和微球菌属仅是一种专职的反硝化菌.反应过程中同时存在O2和NO3时,肠杆菌科优先利用水中的O2进行聚磷;在缺氧环境中,肠杆菌科在COD为30mg/L时的聚磷效果优于COD为180 mg/L时的聚磷效果.可见DPB的反硝化和聚磷的特性与电子受体的存在形式和COD有密切关系.因此,改良传统A2/O工艺和研发同步反硝化聚磷装置时,必须控制缺氧反硝化聚磷单元中混合液的DO和COD.     

土霉素生产废水生物处理装置中微生物群落结构特征解析

抗生素对细菌具有强抑制作用,从而会影响废水生物处理系统中的微生物群落结构。在用定量PCR方法对土霉素生产废水处理装置(进水中土霉素浓度为1 662.1±248.6μg/L)中的细菌16S rRNA基因和真菌18S rRNA基因的含量进行比较的基础上,利用16S rRNA基因克隆文库方法对污泥中的细菌群落结构进行了详细解析。定量PCR结果显示,土霉素废水活性污泥中真菌(18S rRNA)/细菌(16S rRNA)基因的拷贝数比例高达1.2,明显较高于非抗生素肌苷废水活性污泥中的比例1.52×10-6,表明真菌对于土霉素废水中有机物的去除可能发挥重要作用。细菌克隆文库分析结果显示,Alpha变形菌和Beta变形菌是主要的优势菌,比例分别为23.7%和22.0%,其次是酸杆菌(17.0%)和拟杆菌(11.9%)。     

双氧水协同生化法处理实际印染废水

研究了双氧水协同水解酸化-接触氧化系统对实际印染废水的处理效果,并与完全生化处理系统进行对比。将100.0 m L经稀释的浓度为3 m L·L-1的双氧水溶液,用蠕动泵以1.67 m L·min-1的速度投加至正常运行的水解酸化体系底部,投加频率1次·d-1。结果表明,水解酸化体系对COD的去除率为23%~46%,氨氮去除率在-93%~+8.5%之间波动,出水色度为125~150倍;而接触氧化体系COD去除率提高至39%~59%,氨氮去除率接近100%,出水色度为100~125倍。采用16S r DNA宏基因组高通量测序技术,对比分析了双氧水协同生化处理系统和完全生化处理系统内的微生物菌群结构差异,发现双氧水可洗脱水解酸化污泥中的部分厌氧菌,促进优势菌门Proteobacteria(变形菌)和Bacteroidetes(拟杆菌)的富集,有助于脱色,并有助于洗脱接触氧化体系中的部分非优势菌,刺激Nitrospirae(硝化螺旋菌)的生长,促进脱氮作用。     

斑石鲷循环水养殖系统生物滤池微生物群落对水质变化的动态响应

为了解斑石鲷循环水养殖系统生物滤池内部细菌群落组成及其净水机制,通过高通量测序方法,研究了不同时期各级生物滤池的细菌群落结构,分析了各级生物滤池的水质参数及水处理效果。结果表明:实验筛选出37个门和513个细菌属,第3级生物滤池整体微生物群落丰富度和多样性均高于第1级和第2级生物滤池,第2级和第3级生物滤池微生物群落相似性最高。在门水平上,优势菌为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes);在属水平上,发现了起硝化作用的亚硝化单胞菌属Nitrosomonas和硝化螺菌属Nitrospira;实验还发现该系统生物滤池可能存在功能上的浪费现象。该系统的细菌群落结构有稳定的演替模式,生物膜微生物群落变化对水质有一定程度的动态响应,Muricauda、Maribacter等反硝化细菌对硝态氮浓度的变化作用不明显。     

京杭运河杭州段水体污染和细菌群落结构特征

为了解人类活动对城市河道水体污染和细菌群落的影响,选取京杭运河杭州段进行了分季节采样研究。测定了水体的环境与水质参数,分析了细菌丰度、胞外酶活性和群落结构变化。结果显示,从上游到下游,水体中高锰酸盐指数、氨氮、总氮以及细菌丰度和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性大体呈递增趋势,冬季水体总体污染水平及细菌丰度均显著高于其他季节。水体中细菌的主要种类集中在变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacterioidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria),所占比例分别为37.8%、24.3%、18.9%、10.8%和8.1%,属于黄杆菌(Flavobacterium)、厚壁菌(Firmicutes bacterium)和放线菌(Actinobacterium)的细菌是水体中大多数时间的优势细菌。限制性排序分析显示,水体细菌群落结构从上游到下游差异明显,高锰酸盐指数和总氮是关键影响因子。杭州市区由人类活动产生的污染物输入是京杭运河杭州段的主要污染源,水体细菌群落对水体污染物的变化有着明显的响应。     

含盐量与负荷对好氧颗粒中自养与异养菌的影响

研究了含盐量分别为2.5％和5％，有机负荷分别为8 kg COD/(m³·d) 和16 kg COD/(m³·d)条件下好氧颗粒污泥中自养菌和异养菌的成长情况，研究结果如下：(1)系统在高COD负荷条件下抗盐度的冲击能力要强于低负荷条件；(2)从4个反应器对COD的去除效果来看，含盐量对异养菌的影响要低于硝化自养菌；(3)在低负荷情况下，硝化自养菌为优势菌种，在一个周期内产生的NO^-₃-N要高于高负荷，而在高负荷情况下，异养菌为优势菌种。     

3DBER-S阴极nirS型反硝化菌群的分析

为探究低碳氮比条件下3DBER-S(三维电极生物膜与硫自养耦合脱氮工艺)阴极反硝化菌群特征、强化脱氮机制,在TOC/TN=0.36的进水条件下稳定运行反应器,运用nir S基因克隆文库方法,分析了3DBER-S阴极生物膜反硝化菌群结构。结果表明,在3DBER-S阴极生物膜上反硝化菌中,β变形菌(β-proteobacteria)是优势菌种,占细菌总数的59.22%。其中,所占比例最大的是异养菌,包括与固氮弧菌属(Azoarcus tolulyticus)和趋磁螺菌(Magnetospirillum magneticum)类似的细菌,分别占44.74%和21.05%。能够分别利用硫单质或氢气作为电子供体进行反硝化脱氮的Sulfuricella denitrifican、高氯酸盐降解菌(Dechlorospirillum sp.)和陶厄氏菌属(Thauera)三者所占比例之和达到了17.11%。表明系统中氮的去除是由异养反硝化、氢自养反硝化和硫自养反硝化共同作用的结果,既有效减少了脱氮过程中有机碳源的消耗,又维持了系统酸碱度的平衡,从而能够在低碳氮比条件下维持稳定高效的脱氮效果。     

Radionuclides and trace elements in fish collected upstream and downstream of Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the consumption of muscle and bone

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine radionuclide and trace element concentrations in bottom‐feeding fish (catfish, carp, and suckers) collected from the confluences of some of the major canyons that cross Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) lands with the Rio Grande (RG) and the potential radiological doses from the ingestion of these fish. Samples of muscle and bone (and viscera in some cases) were analyzed for ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^totU, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, and ²⁴¹Am and Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cr, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl. Most radionuclides, with the exception of ⁹⁰Sr, in the muscle plus bone portions of fish collected from LANL canyons/RG were not significantly (p<0.05) higher from fish collected upstream (San Ildefonso/background) of LANL. Strontium‐90 in fish muscle plus bone tissue significantly (p<0.05) increases in concentration starting from Los Alamos Canyon, the most upstream confluence (fish contained 3.4E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [126E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]), to Frijoles Canyon, the most downstream confluence (fish contained 14E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [518E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]). The differences in ⁹⁰Sr concentrations in fish collected downstream and upstream (background) of LANL, however, were very small. Based on the average concentrations (±2SD) of radionuclides in fish tissue from the four LANL confluences, the committed effective dose equivalent from the ingestion of 46 lb (21 kg) (maximum ingestion rate per person per year) of fish muscle plus bone, after the subtraction of background, was 0.1 ± 0.1 mrem y^‐1 (1.0 ± 1.0 μSv y^‐1), and was far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1). Of the trace elements that were found above the limits of detection (Ba, Cu, and Hg) in fish muscle collected from the confluences of canyons that cross LANL and the RG, none were in significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations than in muscle of fish collected from background locations.     

Radionuclides in deer and elk from Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the ingestion of muscle and bone

Abstract

This paper summarizes radionuclide concentrations (³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, and ^totU) in muscle and bone tissue of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) collected from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, lands from 1991 through 1998. Also, the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) and the risk of excess cancer fatalities (RECF) to people who ingest muscle and bone from deer and elk collected from LANL lands were estimated. Most radionuclide concentrations in muscle and bone from individual deer (n = 11) and elk (n = 22) collected from LANL lands were either at less than detectable quantities (where the analytical result was smaller than two counting uncertainties) and/or within upper (95%) level background (BG) concentrations. As a group, most radionuclides in muscle and bone of deer and elk from LANL lands were not significantly higher (p<0.10) than in similar tissues from deer (n = 3) and elk (n = 7) collected from BG locations. Also, elk that had been radio collared and tracked for two years and spent an average time of 50% on LANL lands were not significantly different in most radionuclides from road kill elk that have been collected as part of the environmental surveillance program. Overall, the upper (95%) level net CEDEs (the CEDE plus two sigma for each radioisotope minus background) at the most conservative ingestion rate (50 lbs of muscle and 13 lbs of bone) were as follows: deer muscle = 0.22 mrem y^‐1 (2.2 μSv y^‐1), deer bone = 3.8 mrem y^‐1 (38 μSv y^‐1), elk muscle = 0.12 mrem y^‐1 (1.2 μSv y^‐1), and elk bone = 1.7 mrem y^‐1 (17 μSv y^‐1). All CEDEs were far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection guideline of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1), and the highest muscle plus bone net CEDE corresponded to a RECF of 2E‐06, which is far below the Environmental Protection Agency upper level guideline of 1E‐04.     

Leaching of seven pesticides currently used in cotton crop in Mato Grosso State—Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the leaching of pesticides and the applicability of the Attenuation Factor (AF) Model to predict their leaching. The leaching of carbofuran, carbendazim, diuron, metolachlor, α and β endosulfan and chlorpyrifos was studied in an Oxisol using a field experiment lysimeter located in Dom Aquino – Mato Grosso. The samples of percolated water were collected by rain event and analyzed. Chemical and physical soil attributes were determined before pesticide application to the plots. The results showed that carbofuran was the pesticide that presented a higher leaching rate in the studied soil, so was the one representing the highest contamination potential. From the total carbofuran applied in the soil surface, around 6 % leached below 50 cm. The other pesticides showed lower mobility in the studied soil. The calculated values to AF were 7.06E-12 (carbendazim), 5.08E-03 (carbofuran), 3.12E-17 (diuron), 6.66E-345 (α-endosulfan), 1.47E-162 (β-endosulfan), 1.50E-06 (metolachlor), 3.51E-155 (chlorpyrifos). AF Model was useful to classify the pesticides' potential for contamination; however, that model underestimated pesticide leaching.     

Endosulfan in China 2—emissions and residues

Background, aim, and scope  Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and also a candidate to be included in a group of new persistent organic pollutants (UNEP 2007). The first national endosulfan usage inventories in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution has been reported in an accompanying paper. In the second part of the paper, we compiled the gridded historical emissions and soil residues of endosulfan in China from the usage inventories. Based on the residue/emission data, gridded concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese soil and air have been calculated. These inventories will provide valuable data for the further study of endosulfan. Methods  Emission and residue of endosulfan were calculated from endosulfan usage by using a simplified gridded pesticide emission and residue model—SGPERM, which is an integrated modeling system combining mathematical model, database management system, and geographic information system. By using the emission and residue inventories, annual air and soil concentrations of endosulfan in each cell were determined. Results and discussion  Historical gridded emission and residue inventories of α- and β-endosulfan in agricultural soil in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution have been created. Total emissions were around 10,800 t, with α-endosulfan at 7,400 t and β-endosulfan at 3,400 t from 1994 to 2004. The highest residues were 140 t for α-endosulfan and 390 t for β-endosulfan, and the lowest residues were 0.7 t for α-endosulfan and 170 t for β-endosulfan in 2004 in Chinese agricultural soil where endosulfan was applied. Based on the emission and residue inventories, concentrations of α- and β-endosulfan in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were also calculated for each grid cell. We have estimated annual averaged air concentrations and the annual minimum and maximum soil concentrations across China. The real concentrations will be different from season to season. Although our model does not consider the transport of the insecticide in the atmosphere, which could be very important in some areas during some special time, the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil derived from the endosulfan emission and residue inventories are in general consistent with the published monitoring data. Conclusions  To our knowledge, this work is the first inventory of this kind for endosulfan published on a national scale. Concentrations of the chemical in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were calculated for each grid cell. Results show that the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil agree reasonably well with the monitoring data in general. Recommendations and perspectives  The gridded endosulfan emission/residue inventories and also the air and soil concentration inventories created in this study will be updated upon availability of new information, including usage and monitoring data. The establishment of these inventories for the OCP is important for both scientific communities and policy makers.     

Impact of spiked concentrations of Cd,Pb, As and Zn in growth medium on elemental uptake of Nasturtium officinale (Watercress)

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of water quality on the uptake and distribution of three non-essential and toxic elements, namely, As, Cd and Pb in the watercress plant to assess for metal toxicity. The plant was hydroponically cultivated under greenhouse conditions, with the growth medium being spiked with varying concentrations of As, Cd and Pb. Plants that were harvested weekly for elemental analysis showed physiological and morphological symptoms of toxicity on exposure to high concentrations of Cd and Pb. Plants exposed to high concentrations of As did not survive and the threshold for As uptake in watercress was established at 5 ppm. Translocation factors were low in all cases as the toxic elements accumulated more in the roots of the plant than the edible leaves. The impact of Zn on the uptake of toxic elements was also evaluated and Zn was found to have an antagonistic effect on uptake of both Cd and Pb with no notable effect on uptake of As. The findings indicate that phytotoxicity or death of the watercress plant would prevent it from being a route of human exposure to high concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the environment.     

Butyltin compounds in sediment and fish from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea

Concentrations of mono- (MBT), di- (DBT), and tri-(TBT) butyltin compounds were measured in eggs, liver, and muscle of nine species of fish from four regions of the Baltic Sea - the Firth of Vistula, the Gulf of Gdańsk, Puck Bay, and the mouth of the Vistula River. The overall concentration ranges among all the fish sampled from the four sites were: < 7 to 79 ng/g for MBT, 6 to 1100 ng/g for DBT, 7 to 3600 ng/g for TBT, and 16 to 4800 ng/g for total BTs, on a wet wt basis. The highest concentration of total BTs was found in herring liver from the Firth of Vistula (4800 ng/g, wet wt) and in roach muscle from Puck Bay (3300 ng/g, wet wt), while the least concentration was found in burbot eggs and liver from the Vistula River (39 and 32 ng/g, wet wt, respectively). TBT was the major form of BTs present in most samples analyzed. Sediment samples collected from shipyards in the Gulf of Gdańsk contained butyltin concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 46 μg/g (dry wt) for MBT, 2.0 to 42 μg/g for DBT, and 2.6 to 40 μg/g for TBT. As with the fish, the majority of the BTs in sediment were present as TBT, which suggested recent exposure of the aquatic environment of the region to TBT.     

Malathion-induced sublethal toxicity on the hematology of cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)

The effect of malathion [diethyl(dimethoxythiophosphorylthio)succinate] at sublethal concentration (0.006 ppm) on hematological parameters of the cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) was studied for 24 hrs to 240 hrs of exposure and remarkable hematological alterations were observed. The study on hematological parameters revealed a highly significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the total erythrocytes count in malathion-exposed animals from 24 hours to 96 hrs of exposure as compared to control. Significant decreases (P < 0.01) of hemoglobin and packed cell volume were also observed from 48 hrs to 240 hrs. A significant increase (P < 0.01) in leucocytes count was noted throughout the exposure period. Elevated numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils as found in the present study revealed lymphocytosis as well as eosinophilia, suggesting that this was a result of direct stimulation of the immunological defense due to the presence of a toxic substance or may be associated with tissue damage. The cytomorphological and cytopathological study of erythrocytes and leucocytes in malathion-exposed frogs at 0.006 ppm concentration revealed various cytotoxic effects at different exposure times. It was noted that the size and the shape of the erythrocytes were subjected to variation in different blood disorders.     

Relation between forest vegetation, atmospheric deposition and site conditions at regional and European scales

Several monitoring programs have been set up to assess effects of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects on the understorey vegetation, based on the first round of a regional (the Netherlands) and a European forest monitoring program. A multivariate statistical analysis showed surprisingly similar results for both data sets; the vegetation appeared to be largely determined by the ‘traditional’ factors soil, climate, and tree species, but there was a small but statistically significant effect of atmospheric deposition. The effects of deposition include a slight shift towards nitrophytic species at high N deposition in the European network, and towards acidophytic species at high S-deposition in the Dutch network. The relatively small effect of atmospheric deposition is understandable in view of the very large natural variation in environmental conditions. Time series of both vegetation and environment are needed to assess deposition effects in detail.     

Influence of crop residues on trifluralin mineralization in a silty clay loam soil

Trifluralin is typically applied onto crop residues (trash, stubble) at the soil surface, or onto the bare soil surface after the incorporation of crop residues into the soil. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the type and amount of crop residues in soil on trifluralin mineralization in a Wellwood silty clay loam soil. Leaves and stubble of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) (P); Canola (Brassica napus) (C), Wheat (Triticum aestivum) (W), Oats (Avena sativa), (O), and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (A) were added to soil microcosms at rates of 2%, 4%, 8% and 16% of the total soil weight (25 g). The type and amount of crop residues in soil had little influence on the trifluralin first-order mineralization rate constant, which ranged from 3.57E-03 day^?1 in soil with 16% A to 2.89E-02 day^?1 in soil with 8% W. The cumulative trifluralin mineralization at 113 days ranged from 1.15% in soil with 16% P to 3.21% in soil with 4% C, again demonstrating that the observed differences across the treatments are not of agronomic or environmental importance.     

Concurrent nitrate and Fe(III) reduction during anaerobic biodegradation of phenols in a sandstone aquifer

The biodegradation of phenols (5, 60, 600 mg l⁻¹) under anaerobic conditions (nitrate enriched and unamended) was studied in laboratory microcosms with sandstone material and groundwater from within an anaerobic ammonium plume in an aquifer. The aqueous phase was sampled and analyzed for phenols and selected redox sensitive parameters on a regular basis. An experiment with sandstone material from specific depth intervals from a vertical profile across the ammonium plume was also conducted. The miniature microcosms used in this experiment were sacrificed for sampling for phenols and selected redox sensitive parameters at the end of the experiment. The sandstone material was characterized with respect to oxidation and reduction potential and Fe(II) and Fe(III) speciation prior to use for all microcosms and at the end of the experiments for selected microcosms.The redox conditions in the anaerobic microcosms were mixed nitrate and Fe(III) reducing. Nitrate and Fe(III) were apparently the dominant electron acceptors at high and low nitrate concentrations, respectively. When biomass growth is taken into account, nitrate and Fe(III) reduction constituted sufficient electron acceptor capacity for the mineralization of the phenols observed to be degraded even at an initial phenols concentration of 60 mg l⁻¹ (high) in an unamended microcosm, whereas nitrate reduction alone is unlikely to have provided sufficient electron acceptor capacity for the observed degradation of the phenols in the unamended microcosm.For microcosm systems, with solid aquifer materials, dissolution of organic substances from the solid material may occur. A quantitative determination of the speciation (mineral types and quantity) of electron acceptors associated with the solids, at levels relevant for degradation of specific organic compounds in aquifers, cannot always be obtained. Hence, complete mass balances of electron acceptor consumption for specific organic compounds degradation are difficult to confine. For aquifer materials with low initial Fe(II) content, Fe(II) determinations on solids and in aqueous phase samples may provide valuable information on Fe(III) reduction. However, in microcosms with natural sediments and where electron acceptors are associated with the sediments, complete mass-balances for substrates and electron acceptors are not likely to be obtained.