Sources of Hydrogen Sulfide in Groundwater on Reclaimed Land
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
Fisherman Islands is an area of reclaimed land at the mouth of the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia. Ongoing groundwater monitoring has found elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater on the island. The presence of on Fisherman Islands is of concern because of its toxic nature, the potential for acid sulfate soil formation, and its noxious odor. The aim of this study was to identify the sources of within the groundwater on Fisherman Islands. It was hypothesized that the is being formed by sulfate reducing bacteria acting on sulfate from seawater, rather than the introduction of sulfide with the dredge sediments. Groundwater and soil samples were collected and analyzed for sulfide, sulfate, and organic carbon contents. Elevated concentrations of sulfides coincide with elevated concentrations of sulfate in the groundwater and elevated concentrations of organic carbon in the sediments, supporting the hypothesis that sulfide formation is the result of heterotrophic, sulfate reducing organisms.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Port of Brisbane Corporation Environmental Scholarship 2001. Graham Kerven (University of Qld, Land and Food Sciences, Analytical Services) provided much appreciated guidance and advice regarding the analytical procedures.
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© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2002
Accepted: May 19, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
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