The role of polysaccharides and diatom exudates in the redox cycling of Fe and the photoproduction of hydrogen peroxide in coastal seawaters

The effect of artificial acidic polysaccharides (PS) and exudates of Phaeodactylum tricornutum on the half-life of Fe(II) in seawater was investigated in laboratory experiments. Strong photochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production of 5.2 to 10.9 nM (mg C)−1 h−1 was found in the presence of PS and diatom exudates. Furthermore when illuminated with UV light the presence of algal exudates had a net stabilising effect on ferrous iron in seawater (initial value 100 nmol L−1) above that expected from oxidation kinetics. In the dark the PS gum xanthan showed no stabilising effect on Fe(II). The photochemical formation of superoxide (O2−) in the presence of diatom exudates and its reducing effect on Fe(III) appears to result in greater than expected concentrations of Fe(II). A model of the photochemical redox cycle of iron incorporating these processes supported the observed data well. Diatom exudates seem to have the potential to play an important role for the photochemistry of iron in coastal waters.