Chlorination of organic material in different soil types

Abstract: Research has shown that formation of chlorinated organic matter occurs naturally and that organic chlorine is as abundant as the chloride ion in organic soils. A large number of organisms are known to convert inorganic chloride (Clin) to organic chlorine (Clorg) (e.g. bacteria, lichen, fungi and algae) and some enzymes associated to these organisms are capable of chlorinating soil organic matter. The aim with the study was to compare organic matter chlorination rates in soils from several different locations dominated by either coniferous forest or pasture. Soil from eight samples sites in the southern of Sweden were incubated at 20°C with addition of 36Clin in a 138 days long radiotracer experiment. The results show that transformation of 36Clin to 36Clorg occurred and that the amounts of 36Clorg increased over time. The chlorination rate was higher in the samples from coniferous forest than in samples containing pasture soil, where the specific chlorination rate was 3-4 times smaller. This study contributes new information about chlorination in various soil types and soil from different locations in southern central Sweden. The similarity between the chlorination rates measured in coniferous forest soils so far indicate that up scaling to regional estimates may be less problematic than expected.