Role of microbiogeochemical processes in mobilization of As in the aquifer sediments of the Bengal Delta Plain (BDP): an experimental approach

• Antragstellerinnen / Antragsteller: Professorin Dr. Doris Stüben; Professor Dr. Josef U. Winter
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Mineralogie, Petrologie und Geochemie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2011
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 43761887

In the Bengal Delta Plain (BDP) millions of people are exposed to chronic As poisoning due to prolonged consumption of groundwater with high As contents. Despite progresses in understanding the geochemical processes behind this calamity, the ultimate cause of the high As concentrations in groundwater is still unclear, impeding the implementation of efficient mitigation measures. There is an educated guess that bacteria and related biogeochemical processes may play a key role in the mobilization of As from the aquifer sediments, but the validity of this hypothesis remained largely unexplored until now. The proposed project aims to assess and quantify the role of microbes in this process by a synergetic co-operation among microbiologists, geochemists, geologists and chemists in joint laboratory and field experiments. Aquifer sediments and groundwater collected from two drillings at a high and a low As site will be geochemically and microbiologically characterized and the material will be used in column experiments to investigate the mobilization of As during redox processes mediated by different strains of microbes. Field experiments consisting of pumping and injection tests coupled with a hydrochemical monitoring over 2 years aim at deciphering the complex interaction among extensive water exploitation, aquifer aeration, microbial activity, and high As contents in groundwater.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen
• Internationaler Bezug: Indien
• Beteiligte Person: Dr. Debashis Chatterjee