A study was conducted to determine the oxygen uptake rate of
resuspended estuarine bottom sediments and the biodegradability of
the organic matter released during resuspension.
Oxygen uptake was measured on a Gilson Differential Respirometer
and the percent biodegradability was calculated by determining
the soluble organic carbon on a Beckman Carbonaceous Analyzer.
A preliminary study was conducted to determine if estuarine
sediments contained sufficient bacteria to exert a measurable oxygen
uptake or if additional bacterial seed was required. The oxygen uptake
rates of unseeded and seeded sediments were compared and the
results indicated that additional seeding was not necessary.
Another preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the effect
of storage time at 4°C on the oxygen uptake rate of resuspended
estuarine bottom sediments. The oxygen uptake rate of an homogenized sample was measared up to eight days after collection.
Results indicated that the oxygen uptake rate was not seriously
effected by storage at 4°C within the time interval tested.
Oxygen uptake rates and percent biodegradability of four
estuarine sediment samples were measured. The oxygen uptake
rates varied from 2 to 360 μl O₂/gram/hr. Percent biodegradability
was calculated from soluble organic carbon measurements and varied
from 10.4% to 81.0%. The volatile solids content of the sediment
and the soluble ferrous iron, free sulfide and sulfate concentrations
in the interstitial water were also measured. The data were statistically
analyzed for correlation between these parameters and the
oxygen uptake rate and percent biodegradability.
Experimental results indicated that the oxygen uptake rate was
directly related to both the volatile solids content of the sediment
and the soluble organic carbon released during resuspension. The
percent biodegradability of the carbonaceous material released during
resuspension of the sediments was found to be related to the soluble
organic carbon and the free sulfide concentration in the interstitial
water. / Graduation date: 1973
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/26773 |
| Date | 24 October 1972 |
| Creators | Touhey, Robert James |
| Contributors | Schaumburg, Frank D. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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