Biogenic phosphorus compounds in sediment and suspended particles in a shallow eutrophic lake: a ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) study

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Oct 2;46(19):10572-8. doi: 10.1021/es301887z. Epub 2012 Sep 20.

Abstract

Differences in biogenic phosphorus (P) compounds between sediment and suspended particles in aquatic environments are important for understanding the mechanisms of internal P loading, but these differences are still unknown. We used solution-state (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P NMR) with NaOH-ethylenediaminetetraacetic extraction to detect the multiple P compounds in suspended particles and sediment in the eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura, including orthophosphate monoesters, orthophosphate diesters, pyrophosphate, and polyphosphate. We tested the hypothesis that there is a significant difference between these groups in suspended particles and sediment. Biogenic P other than orthophosphate was found in significantly higher proportions in suspended particles (74.3% of total P) than in sediment (25.6%). Orthophosphate monoesters were comparatively more abundant in suspended particles, as indicated by the ratio of orthophosphate diesters to monoesters (average, 0.31 for suspended particles; 1.05 for sediment). The compounds identified as orthophosphate monoesters by (31)P NMR spectroscopy originated mainly from phospholipids (α-glycerophosphate and β-glycerophosphate) and ribonucleic acid (RNA-P), whereas the orthophosphate diesters included mostly DNA (DNA-P). These results suggest that the dynamics of orthophosphate diesters, the production of DNA-P, or the degradation of phospholipids, play an important role in P cycling in Lake Kasumigaura.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry
  • Edetic Acid / chemistry
  • Eutrophication
  • Geologic Sediments / analysis*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry
  • Glycerophosphates / chemistry
  • Japan
  • Lakes
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Phosphates
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Phosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Phosphorus Compounds / chemistry*
  • Phosphorus Isotopes

Substances

  • Glycerophosphates
  • Phosphates
  • Phosphorus Compounds
  • Phosphorus Isotopes
  • Phosphorus
  • DNA
  • Edetic Acid
  • alpha-glycerophosphoric acid