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The Occurrence and Cause of Iron Oxide Deposits in Tile Drains
Author(s) -
Spencer W. F.,
Patrick R.,
Ford H. W.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1963.03615995002700020014x
Subject(s) - tile , sawdust , environmental chemistry , iron bacteria , environmental science , aluminium , soil water , tile drainage , chemistry , mineralogy , metallurgy , geology , bacteria , materials science , soil science , paleontology , organic chemistry , composite material
A red sludge‐like deposit was found in several tile systems in Florida citrus groves. This deposit prevented the tile from functioning properly by blocking the passageway through which water entered the title. The deposit was found to be due primarily to “iron bacteria” which oxidize and precipitate reduced iron in the drainage water. Chemical analyses indicated a large proportion of the material was organic—probably bacterial cell bodies and waste products. The inorganic portion was mainly hydrated iron and aluminum oxides. Bacteriological studies of the material indicated the following genera of bacteria were responsible for the formation of the deposits: Gallionella, Leptrothrix, Thiothrix, Thiobacillus, Crenothrix and Cladothrix . The predominating genera within a tile line varied with location. The deposits occur in both bituminous pipe and clay tile whether installed in sawdust filter or wrapped with fiberglass. The relative amounts of the deposit in tile at various locations were related to the amounts of reduced iron extracted from the soils with an aluminum chloride solution.