Influence of sediment redox conditions on release/solubility of metals and nutrients in a Louisiana Mississippi River deltaic plain freshwater lake

The influence of sediment redox conditions on solubility of selected metals and nutrients in sediment from a coastal Louisiana freshwater lake (Lake Cataouatche) receiving diverted Mississippi River water was quantified. Sediment redox was cycled step wise in 50 mV increments between oxidized (-200 to +500 mV) and reduced (+500 to -200 mV) conditions. Changes in sediment oxidation/reduction status and pH influenced solubility of both metals and nutrients. When redox potential (Eh) was increased from -200 to +500 mV, sediment pH decreased from 7.1 to 5.7. When the sediment Eh decreased from +500 to -200 mV, pH increased from 5.7 to 7.1. The increase in sediment acidity upon oxidation resulted in the release of the Pb, Ca, Mg, Al, and Zn into solution. The solution concentration of these elements was inversely proportional to Eh (P