Release of organic P forms from lake sediments

The effects of different physical and chemical conditions on the decomposition and release of organic and inorganic P compound groups from the sediment of Lake Erken were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Conditions investigated were temperature, oxygen level, and the effects of additions of carbon substrate (glucose) and poison (formalin). The effects on the P compound groups were determined by measurements with 31P NMR before and after the experiments, as well as analysis of P in effluent water throughout the experiment. Phosphate analysis of the effluent water showed that oxygen level was the most influential in terms of release rates, with the sediments under anoxic conditions generally releasing more phosphate than the other treatments. 31P NMR showed that the various treatments did influence the P compound group composition of the sediment. In particular, the addition of glucose led to a decrease in orthophosphate and polyphosphate while the addition of formalin led to a decrease in phosphorus lipids, DNA-phosphate and polyphosphate. Oxic conditions resulted in an increase in polyphosphates, and anoxic conditions in a decrease in these. Temperature did not seem to affect the composition significantly.