Lignin degradation in a coastal groundwater aquifer: a useful tracer?

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHowley, EMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJex, CNen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAndersen, MSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaker, AAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZainuddin, NSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWells, Een_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcDonald, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKham, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBlyth, AJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSpencer, RGMen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-20T00:18:17Zen_AU
dc.date.available2017-02-20T00:18:17Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2014-12en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-02-20en_AU
dc.description.abstractLignin as a biomarker in soils, peat, lakes and intertidal and marine sediment cores has been widely researched in the last four decades. The biogeochemical processes controlling their distribution and composition include fractionation due to phase changes, mineral binding, and abiotic and biotic decay. However, there appears to be no studies in the literature describing the concentration and composition of lignin in groundwater aquifers, despite lignin tracing having the potential to differentiate between types of vegetation and recharge source. In the latter case aquifers could potentially be a source of old, degradation resistant lignin. In this study, we characterise the lignin composition in groundwater samples from a coastal sand aquifer, in SE Australia. We compare these data with lignin composition of fresh vegetation samples from the study site, and with lignin data from other environments in the literature. Groundwater samples were also analysed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and inorganic chemistry (major ions, Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) and redox sensitive species) to investigate lignin fractionation processes. To achieve this, the groundwater lignin composition was compared to the total DOC and DIC in the samples and the prevailing redox reactions. The lignin composition in groundwater was found to be unrelated to the surrounding surface vegetation, indicating significant alteration by biogeochemical processes along its flow paths. We identify potential lignin degradation zones, via determination of total OC consumed through redox reactions and microbial activity. In conclusion, this study, by closely examining the correlations of lignin phenols in groundwater with lignin in surface waters, as well as biogeochemical processes in the aquifer is shedding a new light on the ability of lignin as a biomarker in these subsurface systems. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to assess the usefulness of lignin as a tracer in groundwater. © AGUen_AU
dc.identifier.citationHowley, E. M., Jex, C., Andersen, M. S., Baker, A., Zainuddin, N. S., Meredith, K. , Wells, E., McDonald, J., Khan., Blyth, A. J., & Spencer, R. G. (2014). Lignin degradation in a coastal groundwater aquifer: a useful tracer? Paper presented at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate19 December 2014en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameAGU Fall Meetingen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSan Francisco, Americaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate15 December 2014en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc7902en_AU
dc.identifier.otherB21E-0079en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://agu.confex.com/agu/fm14/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/11848en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/8318en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAmerican Geophysical Unionen_AU
dc.subjectLigninen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectMineralsen_AU
dc.subjectGroundwater rechargeen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectLakesen_AU
dc.titleLignin degradation in a coastal groundwater aquifer: a useful tracer?en_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
Files
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Conference Publications