| Citation: | Yang Shanshan, Zhang Huixiang, Gao Chang, Liu Shiyu, Li Yunxuan, Liu Fei, 2026. Distribution of Minerals in Typical Sediment Cores and Their Indicative Role in Nitrobenzene Abiotic Reduction. Earth Science, 51(6): 2053-2065. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2026.067 |
To explore the relationships among mineral distribution in sediments, their reducing capacity, and the abiotic reduction rate of organic pollutants in groundwater, this study utilized two sets of typical columnar sediment cores. A systematic investigation of sediments was conducted, including particle size composition, mineral distribution, iron speciation, electron-donating capacity (EDC), and abiotic reduction rate of nitrobenzene induced by sediment. Results show that the predominant minerals in sediments varied with sediment particle size, with clay minerals such as illite primarily concentrated in the clay fractions. Clay fractions exhibited a higher EDC than silt fractions, and presented a faster abiotic reduction rate for nitrobenzene. Moreover, EDC not only can serve as a quantitative measure of sediment reducing capacity, but also can act as a valuable indicator for assessing the potential for abiotic reduction of nitrobenzene by sediments. These findings provide a new perspective for predicting the abiotic natural reduction capacity of sediments and groundwater organic contaminant remediation.
|
Aeppli, M., Thompson, A., Dewey, C., et al., 2022. Redox Properties of Solid Phase Electron Acceptors Affect Anaerobic Microbial Respiration under Oxygen⁃Limited Conditions in Floodplain Soils. Environmental Science Technology, 56(23): 17462-17470.
|
|
Cárdenas⁃Hernández, P. A., Murillo⁃Gelvez, J., Rincón⁃Rodríguez, J. C., et al., 2025. Predicting Abiotic Reduction Rate Constants of Munition Compounds in Soils. Environmental Science Technology, 59(6): 3229-3238.
|
|
Chen, H. Y., Shen, R. J., Huang, H. B., et al., 2025. Adsorption Characteristics and Spatial Distribution Prediction of Antibiotics in Sediments of the Yangtze River Delta. Rock and Mineral Analysis, 44(5): 1051-1068 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Dong, H. L., Zeng, Q., Sheng, Y. Z., et al., 2023. Coupled Iron Cycling and Organic Matter Transformation across Redox Interfaces. Nature Reviews Earth Environment, 4(9): 659-673.
|
|
Entwistle, J., Latta, D. E., Scherer, M. M., et al., 2019. Abiotic Degradation of Chlorinated Solvents by Clay Minerals and Fe(Ⅱ): Evidence for Reactive Mineral Intermediates. Environmental Science Technology, 53(24): 14308-14318.
|
|
Fang, Q., Li, Y., Ding, H. R., et al., 2025. Formation and Transformation of Clay Minerals in Mars⁃Analog Rock Varnish. American Mineralogist, 110(9): 1343-1360.
|
|
Gorski, C. A., Scherer, M. M., 2009. Influence of Magnetite Stoichiometry on FeⅡ Uptake and Nitrobenzene Reduction. Environmental Science Technology, 43(10): 3675-3680.
|
|
He, Y. T., Wilson, J. T., Su, C., et al., 2015. Review of Abiotic Degradation of Chlorinated Solvents by Reactive Iron Minerals in Aquifers. Groundwater Monitoring Remediation, 35(3): 57-75.
|
|
Hoving, A. L., Sander, M., Bruggeman, C., et al., 2017. Redox Properties of Clay⁃Rich Sediments as Assessed by Mediated Electrochemical Analysis: Separating Pyrite, Siderite and Structural Fe in Clay Minerals. Chemical Geology, 457: 149-161.
|
|
Huang, J. Z., Jones, A., Waite, T. D., et al., 2021. Fe(Ⅱ) Redox Chemistry in the Environment. Chemical Reviews, 121(13): 8161-8233.
|
|
Huang, S. B., Even, E., Wang, Y. X., 2012. Mineralogical Characteristics of Sediments and Arsenic Mobilization in the Aquifer, Jianghan Plain. Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology, 32(4): 7-11 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1978. Physical and Chemical Analysis of Soil. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Press, Shanghai (in Chinese).
|
|
Kocur, C. M. D., Fan, D. M., Tratnyek, P. G., et al., 2020. Predicting Abiotic Reduction Rates Using Cryogenically Collected Soil Cores and Mediated Reduction Potential Measurements. Environmental Science Technology Letters, 7(1): 20-26.
|
|
Kong, F. X., Liu, X. T., Li, A. C., et al., 2024. Depositional Control on the Fate of Reactive Iron in Shelf Sediments since the Last Deglaciation: A Case Study of the East China Sea. Marine Geology, 475: 107358.
|
|
Kurek, M. R., Garcia⁃Tigreros, F., Nichols, N. A., et al., 2023. High Voltage: The Molecular Properties of Redox⁃Active Dissolved Organic Matter in Northern High⁃Latitude Lakes. Environmental Science Technology, 57(23): 8617-8627.
|
|
Li, X. X., Yan, C., Zeng, Y. X., et al., 2024. Abiotic Transformation of Chlorinated Organics at the Active Surface of Iron⁃Bearing Minerals in Soils and Sediments. Science China Technological Sciences, 67(10): 2991-3008.
|
|
Li, X., Zhang, H. X., Yang, S. S., et al., 2025. Abiotic Attenuation of Nitrobenzene Controlled by Reduction Capacity Shifts during Fe(Ⅱ)aq-Catalyzed Ferrihydrite Transformation. Environmental Science Technology, 59(25): 12958-12966.
|
|
Liao, G. M., Ma, J., Gu, C. Y., et al., 2021. Research Progress on Abiotic Natural Attenuation of Halogenated Hydrocarbons at Contaminated Sites. Research of Environmental Sciences, 34(3): 742-754 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Liao, W. J., Yuan, S. H., Liu, X. X., et al., 2019. Anoxic Storage Regenerates Reactive Fe(Ⅱ) in Reduced Nontronite with Short⁃Term Oxidation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 257: 96-109.
|
|
Liu, F., 2012. Brief Review on Achievements of Groundwater Contamination Monitoring and Remediation. Rock and Mineral Analysis, 31(4): 645-646 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Liu, Y., Yang, Y. M., You, D., et al., 2025. Research Progress on Effects of Iron⁃Containing Minerals on the Natural Attenuation of Organic Pollutants at Sites. Research of Environmental Sciences, 38(5): 1098-1108 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Liu, Z. K., Ni, F. J., Li, G. R., et al., 2026. Danxia Red Caused by Surface Iron Coating: Study on the Occurrence State of Iron in Typical Danxia Strata in Southern China. Earth Science, 51(2): 744-755 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Lu, Y. X., Chen, R., Zhao, W. J., et al., 2025. Accurate and Simple Determination of Sediment Redox Capacity by a Modified Chemical Probe Method: Implications to Contaminant Remediation. Water Research, 284: 124014.
|
|
Lu, Y. X., Zhao, W. J., Zhang, P., et al., 2024. Influence of Dam on the Distribution of Solid Iron Species in Riparian Sediment Particles at Different Sizes. Applied Geochemistry, 165: 105949.
|
|
Na, S., Wei, Z. S., Pee, G. Y., et al., 2020. Effect of Sediment Particle Size on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Bioaccessibility and Degradation by Ultrasound. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 68: 105203.
|
|
Qian, Y. T., Scheinost, A. C., Grangeon, S., et al., 2024. Influence of Structural Fe Content in Clay Minerals on Selenite Redox Reactions: Kinetics and Structural Transformations. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 377: 19-33.
|
|
Rincón⁃Rodríguez, J. C., Cárdenas⁃Hernández, P. A., Murillo⁃Gelvez, J., et al., 2024. Comparative Evaluation of Mediated Electrochemical Reduction and Chemical Redox Titration for Quantifying the Electron Accepting Capacities of Soils and Redox⁃Active Soil Constituents. Environmental Science Technology, 58(40): 17674-17684.
|
|
Sander, M., Hofstetter, T. B., Gorski, C. A., 2015. Electrochemical Analyses of Redox⁃Active Iron Minerals: A Review of Nonmediated and Mediated Approaches. Environmental Science Technology, 49(10): 5862-5878.
|
|
Steffens, M., Rogge, D. M., Mueller, C. W., et al., 2017. Identification of Distinct Functional Microstructural Domains Controlling C Storage in Soil. Environmental Science Technology, 51(21): 12182-12189.
|
|
Takeuchi, M., Kawabe, Y., Watanabe, E., et al., 2011. Comparative Study of Microbial Dechlorination of Chlorinated Ethenes in an Aquifer and a Clayey Aquitard. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 124(1-4): 14-24.
|
|
Wei, H. Y., Wei, S. S., Chen, Q. Z., et al., 2025. Nano⁃Scale Insights into Clay Minerals Regulating the Fe(Ⅱ)⁃Catalyzed Ferrihydrite Transformation under Anoxic Conditions. Environmental Science Technology, 59(8): 3982-3991.
|
|
Wu, K. N., Zhao, R., 2019. Soil Texture Classification and Its Application in China. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 56(1): 227-241 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
Yu, C. L., Qian, A., Lu, Y. X., et al., 2024. Electron Transfer Processes Associated with Structural Fe in Clay Minerals. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 54(1): 13-38.
|
|
Yu, C. L., Zhang, Y. T., Lu, Y. X., et al., 2021. Mechanistic Insight into Humic Acid⁃Enhanced Hydroxyl Radical Production from Fe(Ⅱ)⁃Bearing Clay Mineral Oxygenation. Environmental Science Technology, 55(19): 13366-13375.
|
|
Zhang, H. X., Li, X., Yang, S. S., et al., 2025. Disentangling the Fe Species⁃Dependent Electron Donating Capacity and Abiotic Reduction Capacity towards Nitrobenzene of the Sediment Cores. Environment International, 202: 109674.
|
|
Zhou, Y., LaChance, A. M., Smith, A. T., et al., 2019. Strategic Design of Clay⁃Based Multifunctional Materials: From Natural Minerals to Nanostructured Membranes. Advanced Functional Materials, 29(16): 1807611.
|
|
Zhu, H., Ye, S. J., Wu, J. C., et al., 2021. Characteristics of Soil Lithology and Pollutants in Typical Contamination Sites in China. Earth Science Frontiers, 28(5): 26-34 (in Chinese with English abstract).
|
|
陈海英, 申汝佳, 黄海波, 等, 2025. 长江三角洲沉积物中抗生素的吸附特征及空间分布预测. 岩矿测试, 44(5): 1051-1068.
|
|
黄爽兵, Emilie Even, 王焰新, 2012. 高砷含水层沉积物矿物学特征及砷的活化. 矿物岩石, 32(4): 7-11.
|
|
廖高明, 马杰, 谷春云, 等, 2021. 污染场地卤代烃非生物自然衰减研究进展. 环境科学研究, 34(3): 742-754.
|
|
刘菲, 2012. "地下水污染监测与修复"专栏成果简评. 岩矿测试, 31(4): 645-646.
|
|
刘瑶, 杨延梅, 尤迪, 等, 2025. 含铁矿物对场地有机污染物自然衰减影响研究进展. 环境科学研究, 38(5): 1098-1108.
|
|
刘振康, 倪凤娟, 黎广荣, 等, 2026. 表面铁膜主导的丹霞红: 我国南方典型丹霞地层铁的赋存状态研究. 地球科学, 51(2): 744-755. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.222
|
|
吴克宁, 赵瑞, 2019. 土壤质地分类及其在我国应用探讨. 土壤学报, 56(1): 227-241.
|
|
中国科学院南京土壤研究所, 1978. 土壤理化分析. 上海: 上海科学技术出版社.
|
|
朱辉, 叶淑君, 吴吉春, 等, 2021. 中国典型有机污染场地土层岩性和污染物特征分析. 地学前缘, 28(5): 26-34.
|