Groundwater in-situ generation of aquatic humic and fulvic acids and the mineralization of sedimentary organic carbon

In this paper the groundwater in-situ generation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is discussed based on the origin of groundwaters, their physico-chemical and isotopic properties, chemical composition and the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and its 13C content. Three aquifer systems are investigated. Two of these have relatively well defined hydrological and geochemical conditions (Fuhrberg and Munich) and are used as reference systems. The third aquifer (Gorleben) is a complex system containing DOC concentrations up to 200 mg C/L in deep groundwaters. From this aquifer system 19 groundwaters from different hydrogeochemical conditions are analyzed. The in-situ generation of DOC is found to occur in conjunction with the microbiologically mediated mineralization of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC). Thereby, SO4 is reduced and phosphate is released into the groundwater. Where SO4 is depleted, the mineralization of SOC occurs via fermentation, resulting in CH4 generation.