Natural inactivation of phosphorus by aluminum in atmospherically acidified water bodies

Atmospheric acidification of catchment–lake ecosystems may provide natural conditions for the in-lake control of P cycling. This process is based on the elevated transport of aluminum from acidified soils and its subsequent precipitation in the water body and is described for strongly acidified fore...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water research (Oxford) 2001-11, Vol.35 (16), p.3783-3790
Main Authors: Kopáček, Jiřı́, Ulrich, Kai-Uwe, Hejzlar, Josef, Borovec, Jakub, Stuchlı́k, Evžen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid Rain
acidification
aluminum
Aluminum - chemistry
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Black Forest
Bohemian Forest
Continental surface waters
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Fresh water environment
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
lakes
Natural water pollution
Ore Mountains
pH gradients
phosphorus
Phosphorus - chemistry
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
reservoirs
Tatra Mountains
Trees
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Atmospheric acidification of catchment–lake ecosystems may provide natural conditions for the in-lake control of P cycling. This process is based on the elevated transport of aluminum from acidified soils and its subsequent precipitation in the water body and is described for strongly acidified forest lakes, acidified and circumneutral reservoirs, and a moderately acidified alpine lake. In water bodies with episodically or permanently acidified inflows a pH gradient develops between lake water and tributaries due to: (i) neutralization of acidic inflows after mixing with waters with undepleted carbonate buffering system, and/or (ii) the in-lake alkalinity generation dominated by biochemical removal of NO 3 − and SO 4 2−. With the pH increasing towards neutrality, ionic Al species hydrolyze and form colloidal Al hydroxides (Al part) with large specific surfaces and strong ability to bind orthophosphate from the liquid phase. Moreover, Al part settles and increases the P sorption capacity of the sediment. The presence of Al part on the bottom reduces orthophosphate release from sediments after its liberation from ferric oxyhydroxides during anoxia because Al part is not sensitive to redox changes. Consequently, the natural in-lake P inactivation may be expected in any water body with elevated Al input and a pH gradient between its inlet and outlet.
ISSN:0043-1354
1879-2448
DOI:10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00112-9