Fe(III) photoreduction producing Fe2+aq in oxic freshwater sediment

Iron(III) (Fe(III)) photoreduction plays an important role in Fe cycling and Fe(II) bioavailability in the upper ocean. Although well described for water columns, it is currently unknown to what extent light impacts the production of dissolved Fe(II) (Fe2+) in aquatic sediments. We performed high-resolution voltammetric microsensor measurements and demonstrated light-induced Fe2+ release in freshwater sediments from Lake Constance. Fe2+ concentrations increased up to 40 µM in the top 3 mm of the sediment during illumination in the visible range of light (400-700 nm), even in the presence of oxygen (100-280 µM). The Fe2+ release was strongly dependent on the organic matter content of the sediment. A lack of photo-reduced Fe2+ was measured in sediments with concentrations of organic carbon <6 mg L-1. The simultaneous presence of sedimentary Fe(III) photoreduction besides microbial and abiotic Fe2+ oxidation by oxygen suggests active Fe redox cycling in the oxic and photic zone of aquatic sediments. Here, we...