Characterization of phosphorus in marshland sediments by 31phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Phosphorus turnover is vital to understand algal blooms and nutrient export in coastal waters; however, little is known about the composition and dynamic of sediment phosphorus in marshes. In this study, the relative composition of various organic phosphorus in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) extracts of freshwater and saltwater sediments in the Pelham Bay Park, New York City, the USA, were investigated, using solution ³¹phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance Spectroscopy. The correlation between sodium hydroxide-extractable organic phosphorus and the organic matter content fitted to a linear model. Moreover, it is indicative that the species of organic phosphorus compounds in sediments are mainly dependent on salinity and the organic matter content in the sediments. The representative phosphorus compounds in the marshland sediments were glucose-6-phosphate nucleoside monophosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The composition of various phosphorous compounds was more complex in the saltwater sediments than in the freshwater sediments. Monoester phosphorus was the major component in most of the marshland, and diester phosphorus dominated the anoxic area.

Keywords
Freshwater; Pelham Bay Park; Organic phosphorus; Phosphate compounds; Salt water