Characteristics and assessment of biogenic phosphorus in sediments from the multi-polluted Haihe River, China, using phosphorus fractionation and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P-NMR)

Abstract. We studied the phosphorus (P) pollution, as described by concentrations, distribution and transformation potential, of sediments of the water scarce and heavily polluted Fuyang River, a tributary of the Haihe River, using P fractionation and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P-NMR).The sediments of the Fuyang River accumulate significant amounts of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and organic phosphorus (Po) from industrial and domestic wastewater and agricultural non-point pollution. In terms of their contribution to total phosphorus, the rank order of the P fractions was as follows: H₂SO₄-P > NaOH-Pi > Res-P > NaOH-Po > KCl-P and their average relative proportions were 69.7:47.5:15.9:2.9:1.0 (the proportion was based on the average proportion of the KCl-P). Seven P compounds were detected by the ³¹P-NMR analysis. Orthophosphate (Ortho-P: 45.2–92.4%) and orthophosphate monoesters (mono-P: 6.6–45.7%) were the dominant forms. Smaller amounts of pyrophosphates (pyro-P: 0.1–6.6%), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA-P: 0.3–3.9%), phosphonates (phon-P: 0–3.3%), phospholipids (lipids-P: 0–2.7%) and polyphosphate (poly-P: 0–0.04%) were observed in the sediments. Results of P fractionation and ³¹P-NMR analysis showed that 35% of Pi was labile P, including KCl-P and NaOH-Pi (Fe-P and Al-P). Biogenic-P accounted for 24% of P in the sediments. Analysis of the relationships between P species and water quality indicated that the Po compounds would mineralize to form ortho-P and would be potentially bioavailable for recycling to surface water, supporting further growth of phytoplankton and leading to algal blooms.