Autor: G.K. Ruddy, T.E.R. Jones, J.F.C. de Brouwer, Lucas J. Stal
Rok vydání: 2002
Předmět:
Zdroj: Biogeochemistry. 61:57-71
ISSN: 0168-2563
DOI: 10.1023/a:1020291728513
Popis: Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) are considered to play animportant role in the stabilization of intertidal mudflats. In this study therole of EPS as a binding agent in intertidal sediments was investigated. Forthis purpose two EPS fractions (termed coll-SF and EDTA-SF) wereisolated from intertidal sediment and characterized in terms ofmonosaccharide- and size distribution. In slurry addition experiments thesorption characteristics of these EPS-fractions as well as their effecton sediment properties were examined under varyingCa2+-concentrations. Results showed more EDTA-SFadsorbed to the sediment compared to coll-SF. For both fractions more EPSadsorbed to the sediment when Ca2+-concentrationincreased. This effect was stronger for EDTA-SF. The differences insorption between the two fractions could not be explained in terms ofmonosaccharide- and size distribution, which were largely similar. Theaddition of EPS in the presence or absence of Ca2+ did notalterthe rheology of the sediment slurries indicating that there was no effect ofEPSon the sediment properties. This contradicts results of experiments withbacterial EPS as well as field observations in which the presence ofEPS/biofilms leads to an increase in the erosion resistance of the sediment.Possible causes for this discrepancy in results are discussed.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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