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Dissolved Organic Carbon in Groundwater Systems

book cover of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Groundwater Systems
Publication year: 2022
Number of pages: 58

ISBN: 978-1-77470-016-7
https://doi.org/10.21083/978-1-77470-016-7

Citation: Chapelle, F.H., (2022). Dissolved Organic Carbon in Groundwater Systems. The Groundwater Project. https://doi.org/10.21083/978-1-77470-016-7.

Author:

Francis H. Chapelle: U. S. Geological Survey (Retired)

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Last Update: 2 February 2024
Released: 28 August 2022

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Dissolved Organic Carbon in Groundwater Systems

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Spanish translation by Montserrat San Martin-Velasco​
Released: 20 January 2024

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Carbono Orgánico Disuelto en Sistemas de Agua Subterránea

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Description

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a chemical constituent that is present in measurable quantities in virtually all groundwater. Because DOC typically consists of many thousands of different carbon-bearing moieties, its composition and its chemical and biological properties can be difficult to assess. This book summarizes the most common sources of DOC in groundwater, the various analytical techniques for characterizing that DOC, the chemical and biological processes that control DOC concentrations, and the chemical and biological processes that affect the bioavailability of DOC.

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Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

2 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

2.1 Improved Analytical Methods Provided Insight into the Occurrence and Behavior of DOC

2.2 DOC Fate Summarized in a Regional Chromatography Model

3 SOURCES OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON TO GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS

3.1 Allochthonous Sources of DOC

3.2 Autochthonous Sources of DOC

3.3 Anthropogenic Sources of DOC

3.3.1 Tilled Agriculture
3.3.2 Feedlot Operations
3.3.3 Petroleum Hydrocarbons
3.3.4 Chlorinated Solvents

4 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF DOC

4.1 Humic and Fulvic Acids

4.2 Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic, and Neutral Fractions of DOC

4.3 Elemental Composition of DOC

4.4 Solid State C-13 NMR

4.5 UV Absorbance

4.6 Fluorescence Spectroscopy

5 CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES CONTROLLING DOC CONCENTRATIONS

5.1 Sorption and Desorption

5.2 Biodegradation of DOC

5.2.1 Kinetics of DOC Adsorption and Biodegradation in Groundwater Systems

6 BIOAVAILABILITY OF DOC IN GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS

6.1 The Age of Groundwater, Aquifer Sediments and DOC Bioavailability

6.2 The Age of Aquifer Sediments and DOC Bioavailability

7 CONCLUDING REMARKS

7.1 Summary

7.2 Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water (GUDISW)

7.3 Topics for Further Study

8 EXERCISES

9 REFERENCES

10 EXERCISE SOLUTIONS

11 NOTATIONS

12 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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