Diel variation of selenium and arsenic in a wetland of the Great Salt Lake, Utah

G. Dicataldo; W.P. Johnson; David L. Naftz; D.F. Hayes; W.O. Moellmer; T. Miller

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2010.10.011

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Diel variation of selenium and arsenic in a wetland of the Great Salt Lake, Utah

G. Dicataldo·W.P. Johnson·David L. Naftz·D.F. Hayes·W.O. Moellmer·T. Miller

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Abstract

D iel (24-h) changes in Se and As concentrations in a freshwater wetland pond bordering the Great Salt Lake (GSL) were examined. Selenium concentrations (filtered and unfiltered) changed on a diel basis, i.e., were depleted during early morning and enriched during daytime over August 17–18. During the May 24–25, 2006 and September 29–30 diel studies, no significant 24-h trends were observed in Se concentrations compared to August, which showed daily maximums up to 59% greater than the daily minimum. Both filtered and unfiltered As concentrations also varied on a diel cycle, with increased concentrations during early morning and decreased concentrations during daytime. Filtered As concentrations increased 110% during the May 24–25, 2006 diel study. Selenium varied in phase with pH, dissolved O 2 (DO), and water temperature ( T w ) whereas As varied opposite to Se, pH, DO and T w . Changes in pH, DO and T w showed a direct linear correlation ( r = 0.74, 0.75, and 0.55, respectively) to filtered Se. Also pH, DO and T w were inversely correlated to filtered As concentration ( r = −0.88, −0.87, and −0.84, respectively). Equilibrium geochemical speciation and sorption models were used to examine the potential oxidation state changes in Se and As, and sorption and desorption reactions corresponding to the observed 24-h variations in pe and pH. In this wetland it was postulated that diel Se variation was driven by sorption and desorption due to photosynthesis-induced changes in pH and redox conditions. Diel variations of As were hypothesized to be linked to pH-driven sorption and desorption as well as co-precipitation and co-dissolution with mineral phases of Mn.

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Applied Geochemistry Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 40.48038142908172° to 41.934976500546604° latitude; -113.5986328125° to -111.24755859375° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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G. Dicataldo, W.P. Johnson, David L. Naftz, D.F. Hayes, W.O. Moellmer, T. Miller. 2011. Diel variation of selenium and arsenic in a wetland of the Great Salt Lake, Utah. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2010.10.011

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