The effects of organic materials on microbial mediation of arsenic. in contaminated sediment

Indigenous bacterial mediation of As in contaminated sediment after biostimulation with a variety of carbon sources was investigated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under the aerobic condition with lactate supply, indigenous bacteria increased the amount of total As extracted from the sediment and most dissolved As existed as As(V). Under the anaerobic, glucose-supplied condition, dissolved As diminished with time likely due to production of As sulfide(s) and subsequent precipitation, which resulted from bacterial reduction of ${SO_4}^{2-}$. The results implied that bacterial natural attenuation of As in subsurface has a potential to be practically applied.