Geochemical evidences in the release processes of Arsenic into the groundwater in a part of Brahmaputra Floodplains

摘要

To understand the sources and mobilization processes responsible for arsenic enrichment in groundwater in the Brahmaputra Basin where higher arsenic concentration have been reported, the geochemical features of the aquifer sediments were studied. Six boreholes were drilled near the tubewells (1 and 2) where aqueous arsenic concentration varies between 250 - 350 μg/l. The soil sediment was collected at 3 m (10 ft) interval and it was drilled to the depth of 45 m (150 ft) which is the common depth of the tubewell installed in the study area. The bulk chemical studies on the sediments show that the pH of soils varies from 4.2 to 5.2 with a mean value of 4.75. The groundwater composition in the study area is of Na-HCO3-. The major anions HCO3- is likely from the decomposition of organic matter and originates from weathering of silicate and calcite minerals by atmospheric or respired CO2. Selective sequential extraction (SSE) method proposed by Wenzel et al., (2001) for extraction of arsenic from soil was used. Results of sequential extraction experiment show that solid-phase arsenic is present predominantly in the reducible fraction (Ext_5 and Ext_6), and residual fraction (Ext_7) contributes to highest fraction in many soil sediment. The major processes of arsenic mobilization probably linked to desorption of As from Fe oxides/oxyhydroxides and the reductive dissolution of Fe rich phases in the aquifers sediments under reducing and alkaline conditions.