Towards the identification of humic ligands associated with iron transport through a salinity gradient

Humic ligands from boreal rivers have been identified as important sources of iron-binding ligands to the coastal marine environment but remain poorly characterized. A novel method using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify and quantify iron-binding ligands present in a boreal river in Newfoundland, Canada. 20 to 35% of the total iron load was carried through an artificial salinity gradient, and remained in solution at 35 salinity. Using FTIR combined with linear regression and 2D correlation analysis, we identified two pools of organic ligands, with different behaviour with regards to iron across the salinity gradient. The weaker ligand pool consisted of alkenes, ethers, and esters, and was found to release iron to flocculation at low salinities, and not contribute to iron transport into the marine environment. The stronger ligand group contained carboxylic acids and aliphatic functional groups. This group appears to contain two subgroups, one which was able to retain iron in the dissolved phase at 35 salinity, and another that flocculated out with iron across the salinity gradient. The strong ligands that retain iron in solution through the salinity gradient provide a much-needed source of the micronutrient to the coastal and marine environment, while the other subgroup sequesters iron and carbon in estuarine sediments. The balance between these two subgroups appears to be controlled by the hydrographic and weather conditions at the time of sampling, suggesting a dynamic ligand-iron relationship throughout the year, impacting the biogeochemical cycles of both iron and carbon in contrasting ways.