Organic matter decomposition

BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand - the rate at which microorganisms use the oxygen in water or wastewater while stabilizing decomposable organic matter under aerobic conditions. In decomposition, organic matter serves as food for the bacteria and energy results from this oxidation. 

During decomposition, organic matter is broken down into smaller and smaller organic molecules until it is completely converted into carbon dioxide, water, and humus.2 The same is true for anaerobic decomposition except that one of the final decomposition products is methane. Thus, at any given time, intermediate decomposition products can be found in the soil solution. 

Sulfur comes mainly from the decomposition of organic matter, and one observes that with the passage of time and of gradual settling of material into strata, the crude oils lose their sulfur in the form of H2S that appears in the associated gas, a small portion stays with the liquid. Another possible origin of H2S is the reduction of sulfates by hydrogen by bacterial action of the type desulforibrio desulfuricans (Equation 8.1) ... 

Methane also is commonly produced by the decomposition of organic matter by a variety of bacterial processes, and the gas is used as a fuel in sewage plants (see Water, sewage). Methane also is called marsh gas because it is produced during the decay of vegetation in stagnant water. 

Gas Phase. The decomposition of gaseous ozone is sensitive not only to homogeneous catalysis by light, trace organic matter, nitrogen oxides. 

In natural water, the half-hves fall between these extremes. For example, the half-life of Lake Zbrich water (pH 8, 1.5 meq/LHCO ) is 10 min (27). The decomposition in natural water also can be initiated by trace metal ions, eg, Fe , promoted by impurities such as organic matter, and inhibited by HO radical scavengers, eg, HCO3, COg , HPO (25,28). 

Hydrogen sulfide is a commonly occurring decomposition product of organic matter. It is relatively water soluble at higher pHs where it is predominantly dissociated as and S ions. As the pH is decreased below 7, undissociated gas HjS begins to predominate and is released. Since its vapor density is > 1.0, HjS gas tends to settle in low places and creates a toxicity hazard. H S is readily oxidizable by a number of means to less toxic SO3" or 804 forms. 

Putrefaction Biological decomposition of organic matter with the production of ill-smelling products associated with anaerobic conditions. 

Most petroleum scientists believe that crude oil and natural gas formed over millions to tens of millions of years through the decomposition of organic matter buried by sediments. Generally, marine sediments have led to oil and gas, while freshwater... 

An excess of a standard solution of iron(II) must therefore be added and the excess back-titrated with standard cerium(IV) sulphate solution. Erratic results are obtained, depending upon the exact experimental conditions, because of induced reactions leading to oxidation by air of iron(II) ion or to decomposition of the persulphate these induced reactions are inhibited by bromide ion in concentrations not exceeding 1M and, under these conditions, the determination may be carried out in the presence of organic matter. 

Diminished alkalinity, attributable to thermal decomposition of organic matter to acidic compounds... 

Impairment of steam purity, attributable to thermal decomposition of organic matter to volatile compounds this is especially important where steam is used directly in processing food, pharmaceuticals, or beverages... 

It is less conunonly known that methane was one of the original atmospheric gases and is a normal product of the microbial decomposition of organic matter under anaerobic conditions. Bacteria involved in production of methane are unique in their metabolism and other properties. The balanced... 

Dead vegetation also afreets the global carbon cycle. Dead organic matter decomposes, releasing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Rates of decomposition vary with material, location, and climate. Non-woody organic matter decomposes rapidly woody organic matter slowly. Decomposition tends to occur faster at the soil surface than below. Decomposition is relatively fast in warm moist climates. In cold climates and in wetlands, decomposition is so slow that there is a net increase of stored carbon in the soil and organic soils called, "histosols, are formed. 

Fluxes are linear functions of reservoir contents. Reservoir size and the residence time of the carbon in the reservoir are the parameters used in the functions. Between the ocean and the atmosphere and within the ocean, fluxes rates are calculated theoretically using size of the reservoir, surface area of contact between reservoirs, concentration of CO2, partial pressures of CO2, temperature, and solubility as factors. The flux of carbon into the vegetation reservoir is a function of the size of the carbon pool and a fertilization effect of increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Flux from vegetation into the atmosphere is a function of respiration rates estimated by Whittaker and Likens (79) and the decomposition of short-lived organic matter which was assumed to be half of the gross assimilation or equal to the amount transferred to dead organic matter. Carbon in organic matter that decomposes slowly is transferred... 

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