Carbon and methane cycling in arsenic-contaminated aquifers

Article


Stopelli, Emiliano, Duyen, Vu T., Prommer, Henning, Glodowska, Martyna, Kappler, Andreas, Schneider, Magnus, Eiche, Elisabeth, Lightfoot, Alexandra K., Schubert, Carsten J., Trang, Pham K. T., Viet, Pham H., Kipfer, Rolf, Winkel, Lenny H. E. and Berg, Michael. 2021. "Carbon and methane cycling in arsenic-contaminated aquifers." Water Research. 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117300
Article Title

Carbon and methane cycling in arsenic-contaminated aquifers

ERA Journal ID4694
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsStopelli, Emiliano, Duyen, Vu T., Prommer, Henning, Glodowska, Martyna, Kappler, Andreas, Schneider, Magnus, Eiche, Elisabeth, Lightfoot, Alexandra K., Schubert, Carsten J., Trang, Pham K. T., Viet, Pham H., Kipfer, Rolf, Winkel, Lenny H. E. and Berg, Michael
Journal TitleWater Research
Journal Citation200
Article Number117300
Number of Pages8
Year2021
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0043-1354
1879-2448
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117300
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004313542100498X
Abstract

Geogenic arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is a health threat to millions of people worldwide, particularly in alluvial regions of South and Southeast Asia. Mitigation measures are often hindered by high heterogeneities in As concentrations, the cause(s) of which are elusive. Here we used a comprehensive suite of stable isotope analyses and hydrogeochemical parameters to shed light on the mechanisms in a typical high-As Holocene aquifer near Hanoi where groundwater is advected to a low-As Pleistocene aquifer. Carbon isotope signatures (δ13C-CH4, δ13C-DOC, δ13C-DIC) provided evidence that fermentation, methanogenesis and methanotrophy are actively contributing to the As heterogeneity. Methanogenesis occurred concurrently where As levels are high (>200 µg/L) and DOC-enriched aquitard pore water infiltrates into the aquifer. Along the flowpath to the Holocene/Pleistocene aquifer transition, methane oxidation causes a strong shift in δ13C-CH4 from -87‰ to +47‰, indicating high reactivity. These findings demonstrate a previously overlooked role of methane cycling and DOC infiltration in high-As aquifers.

KeywordsGroundwater quality; Drinking water; Geogenic As contamination; Heterogeneity; Organic matter; Carbon isotope δ13C
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020401199. Environmental engineering not elsewhere classified
Byline AffiliationsSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland
Vietnam National University, Vietnam
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
University of Western Australia
University of Tubingen, Germany
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
School of Engineering
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