Environmental And Water Quality Operational Studies Anaerobic And Aerobic Rate Coefficients For Use In Ce Qual R1

Anaerobic and aerobic rate coefficients for iron, manganese, orthophosphate-P, ammonium-N, and other nutrients were determined for a wide variety of reservoir sediments using laboratory reactor units. Predicted anaerobic rate coefficients derived using diffusion equations were compared to observed anaerobic rate coefficients for iron, manganese, ammonium-N, and orthophosphate-P. Actual ammonium-N release rates closely paralleled release rates predicted by diffusion equations; release rates for iron, manganese, and orthophosphate-P consistently exceeded predicted release rates. Remobilization of iron, manganese, and orthophosphate from the aerobic surface sediment layer during anaerobic conditions was postulated as the cause of the enhanced releases observed.