Coupled Processes Involving Organic Matter and Fe Oxyhydroxides Control Geogenic Phosphorus Enrichment in Groundwater Systems: New Evidence from FT-ICR-MS and XANES

Abstract

The enrichment of geogenic phosphorus (P) in groundwater systems threatens environmental and public health worldwide. Two significant factors affecting geogenic P enrichment include organic matter (OM) and Fe (oxyhydr)­oxide (FeOOH). However, due to variable reactivities of OM and FeOOH, variable strategies of their coupled influence controlling P enrichment in groundwater systems remain elusive. This research reveals that when the depositional environment is enriched in more labile aliphatic OM, its fermentation is coupled with the reductive dissolution of both amorphous and crystalline FeOOHs. When the depositional environment is enriched in more recalcitrant aromatic OM, it largely relies on crystalline FeOOH acting concurrently as electron acceptors while serving as “conduits” to help itself stimulate degradation and methanogenesis. The main source of geogenic P enriched by these two different coupled processes is different: the former is P-containing OM, which mainly contained unsaturated aliphatic compounds and highly unsaturated-low O compounds, and the latter is P associated with crystalline FeOOH. In addition, geological setting affects the deposition rate of sediments, which can alter OM degradation/preservation, and subsequently affects geochemical conditions of geogenic P occurrence. These findings provide new evidence and perspectives for understanding the hydro­(bio)­geochemical processes controlling geogenic P enrichment in alluvial-lacustrine aquifer systems.