Presence of Humic Substances and the Inorganic Forms of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Groundwater

摘要

The pollution of underground water with compounds of iron is a very serious problem in water treatment. Removal of iron is difficult, because this element associates with humic substances. The majority of iron in these compounds occurs in its highest oxidation state (III). Other soluble compounds present in such waters contain iron(ll). For removal of these inorganic forms of iron aeration of water is necessary. Aeration of waters containing large quantities of organic compounds (such as humic substances), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) create good conditions for the presence of aerobic and facultatively aerobic microorganisms (some of them potentially pathogenic) (1). During the treatment of large quantities of water potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi can easily be introduced. To evaluate the potential hazards of their development, determination of organic compounds, including various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, is essential.