Abstract

This proposal was based on the hypothesis that hydroxyl radical may be produced via radiolysis reactions in deep marine sediments, and that these reactive oxygen species may then proceed to liberate bioavailable organic matter by reacting with recalcitrant sedimentary organic matter. During the period of this grant, we worked on improved techniques to quantify hydroxyl radicals in anoxic water, to quantify hydroxyl radicals in estuarine sediments, to determine the effect of hydroxyl on DOM composition, and to determine the effect of hydroxyl radicals on DOM bioavailability. These experiments generated data that were inconclusive and/or difficult to interpret. While this grant supported two undergraduate students and a lab technician in her first job after graduation and generated five presentations at meetings, it requires more analytical work before the results can be published.