Understanding biogeochemical processes driven by naturally occurring organic material in a U-contaminated aquifer
EMSL Project ID
43895
Abstract
Organic material present in subsurface environments is able to drive biogeochemical cycles, with implications for carbon flux, contaminant metal remediation, and nutrient flow. At the Rifle Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFRC) site in Western Colorado, it is hypothesized that natural organic matter (NOM) stimulates microbial activity, resulting in the reduced nature of the aquifer. In specific subsurface regions at the site, elevated U concentrations are detected, suggesting that NOM may play a role in the fate and transport of U at Rifle. We propose a study that aims to enrich the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction from a number of locations in the Rifle aquifer, and use this material as a carbon and energy source in microbial enrichments. By studying the composition of this material before and after incubations, we hope to determine which DOM fractions play the greatest role in stimulating microbial processes of interest. In order to accurately determine the nature of the enriched DOM samples, we require measurements taken using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) detection at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. While this preliminary data will itself be of great interest to researchers studying natural attenuation of contaminant metals, it is anticipated that this data will be incorporated into a forthcoming SBR FY2012 proposal that will develop these ideas further.
Project Details
Project type
Limited Scope
Start Date
2011-04-04
End Date
2011-06-04
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Mouser PJ, MJ Wilkins, DF Smith, KH Williams, L Pasa-Tolic, and PE Long. 2011. "Molecular Characterization and Utilization of Dissolved Organic Matter by Microbial Communities Indigenous to a Uranium-Contaminated Aquifer." PNNL-SA-84799, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.