Removal of Iron and Manganese from Water with a High Organic Carbon Loading. Part II: The Effect of Various Adsorbents and Nanofiltration Membranes

This paper describes the second part of an investigation into the removal of iron and manganese from water with a high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loading. This investigation focused on the use of ferrichloride as coagulant in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and different physical treatment processes, such as adsorption and nanofiltration, to reduce dissolved iron and manganese in water with a high DOC loading. It was found that nanofiltration employing H₂O₂ is the only treatment capable of producing drinking water within the set requirements of the treatment facility. Both fly ash and powdered activated carbon (PAC) used as adsorbents yielded a low percentage removal of DOC, while all the treatment methods evaluated accomplished high removals of the metallic ions Fe(II) and Mn(II). From the results a staggered treatment approach is recommended to obtain the best results at the lowest cost.     

Influence of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) on the Speciation of Aluminum during Water Treatment

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a term collectively used to describe the complex matrix of organic material present in natural waters. The impact of NOM on the speciation of aluminum at Buffalo Pound water treatment plant was evaluated in the present study using fulvic acid. The first stage of the study was to conduct aluminum (Al) speciation experiments (using background dissolved organic carbon levels present in the raw water) at the pilot scale water treatment plant located within the main plant changing the aluminum sulfate (alum) dose from 68 mg L^-1 (yearly average dose of the main plant) to 34 mg L^-1. The second stage of the study was to conduct jar tests at various alum/DOC ratios. Pilot scale speciation study showed that when the alum/DOC ratio was 5.3, most of the total aluminum in the filtered water was in the form of particulate aluminum. Such an increased particulate aluminum level did not increase the finished water turbidity. Soluble organic aluminum also increased compared to the level in raw water when the alum/DOC ratio was 5.3. Al speciation study conducted during jar testing showed that organically bound aluminum increased from 8 μg L^-1 (raw water) to 15 μg L^-1 in the finishedwater when the alum/DOC = 1.37. Jar test results also showed that an alum/DOC of at least 7.3 should be maintained in the main plant in order to meet the proposed operating guidelines of 100 μg L^-1 of total aluminum by Health Canada given the conditions that finished water soluble aluminum levels may be in the range of 35–40 μg L^-1.     

过氧化氢增氧水的理化特性及其在黏土中入渗分析

地下滴灌的黏土通常伴随着缺氧的特征。过氧化氢增氧灌溉是改善土壤通气性的有效方法。为探讨添加过氧化氢对水的理化特性及其在土壤中入渗的影响,该研究分析了不同浓度的过氧化氢增氧水(H₂O₂浓度分别为0、600、800、1 000 mg/L)的溶解氧浓度、氧气传质系数、表面张力系数、电导率和pH值以及入渗过程。结果表明：溶解氧浓度随H₂O₂添加浓度的增大而增大,表面张力系数则呈现出相反的趋势。溶解氧浓度与表面张力系数存在良好的对数函数关系,二者可以作为过氧化氢增氧水理化特性的定量评价指标。与对照相比,过氧化氢增氧水促进了土壤水分入渗过程,提高了土壤的持水能力。土壤累积入渗量、湿润锋深度以及土壤含水率均随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值在800 mg/L处理中获得。Philip入渗模型能够较好地模拟过氧化氢增氧水的入渗过程,吸渗率随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值出现在800 mg/L处理。吸渗率与溶解氧浓度之...     

Iron oxidation in different types of groundwater of Western Siberia

Background, aim, and scope  The groundwaters of Western Siberia contain high concentrations of iron, manganese, silicon, ammonium, and, in several cases, hydrogen sulfide, carbonic acids, and dissolved organic substances. Generally, the groundwaters of Western Siberia can be divided into two major types: one type with a relatively low concentration of humic substances and high hardness (water of A type) and a second type with a relatively low hardness and high concentration of humic substances (water of B type). For drinking water production, the waters of A type are mostly treated in the classical way by aeration followed by sand bed filtration. The waters of B type often show problems when treated for iron removal. A part of iron practically does not form the flocs or particles suitable for filtration or sedimentation. The aim of this work was to determine the oxidizability of Fe(II), to characterize the iron colloids, and to investigate the complexation of the iron ions with humic substances and the coagulation of the iron colloids in the presence of dissolved organic matter. Materials and methods  Water samples of the A and B types were taken from bore holes in Western Siberia (A type: in Tomsk and Tomsk region, B type: in Beliy Yar and Kargasok). Depth of sampling was about 200 m below surface. The oxidation of the groundwater samples by air oxygen and ozone was done in a bubble reactor consisting of a glass cylinder with a gas-inlet tube. To produce ozone, a compact ozone generator developed by Tomsk Polytechnic University was used. For the characterization of the colloids in the water of B type, the particle size distribution and the zeta potential were measured. To investigate the formation of complexes between iron and humic substances in the water of B type, size exclusion chromatography was used. The coagulation behavior of iron in the presence of dissolved organic substances was investigated at different pH values. The agglomerates were detected by measuring the optical density using a UV-Vis spectrometer. Results  Ozone showed, as expected, a faster oxidation of Fe(II) than air oxygen. The rate constants for Fe(II) oxidation were not much different for the waters of A and B types when the same oxidation process was used. However, the removal of iron after oxidation and filtration was higher in the water of A type than in the water of B type. No evidence for the formation of soluble complexes between iron and humic substances were found. In the water of A type, the coagulation process started at pH = 4.5 and accelerated with increasing pH value. In the water of B type, the coagulation of colloids occurred only at pH = 11 and higher. Discussion  The oxidation experiments indicated no major effect of dissolved organic carbon concentration on the kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation. In contrast to this, the humic substances showed a significant influence on the aggregation behavior of the iron hydroxide colloids. Due to the sorption of humic substances on the iron hydroxide colloids, they were highly stable in the pH range between 4.5 and 10. The particle size measurements confirmed the presence of small colloids in the water of B type. In contrast to this, the iron hydroxide colloids aggregated rapidly at pH = 11. Conclusions  The results showed a great influence of humic substances on the iron removal from groundwaters of Western Siberia with high organic content. The sorption of humic substances on the iron colloids does not obviously allow their coagulation and formation of flocs suitable for filtration or sedimentation. Recommendations and perspectives  By treatment of groundwaters containing high amounts of humic substances, some problems with the removal of iron are likely to occur. To increase the effectiveness of iron removal, the surface coating and pH-dependent charge effects should be taken into account by the selection and optimization of water treatment processes. The iron colloids coated by humic substances should be separated from the water phase by membrane filtration or by flocculation followed by filtration through different solid materials.     

水分状况对水稻土有机碳矿化动态的影响

水分状况影响土壤水溶性有机C(DOC)溶出,而DOC含量变化与土壤有机C矿化动态有密切关系。通过室内试验,研究了不同水土比提取条件对太湖地区水稻土(黄泥土)DOC含量的影响,观测了培育过程中土壤DOC含量及土壤有机C矿化的动态变化。结果表明,土壤DOC含量随着水土比的增大而升高,且两者之间呈显著的线性关系。长期室内恒温培育条件下,淹水处理土壤DOC含量显著高于好气处理(P<0.01),且在整个培养期内都保持这一趋势,而两处理之间的差值则表现为先增大后减小。培育过程中,土壤日均矿化量好气处理高于淹水处理,但两处理之间的差值则随着培养时间延长而不断缩小。     

OPTIMUM DESIGN OF SEDIMENTATION TANKS BASED ON SETTLING CHARACTERISTICS OF KARACHI TANNERY WASTES

A study was carried out in a specially designed settling column to investigate the settling characteristics of effluents arising from Karachi tanneries. The Jar-tests were conducted to determine the optimum dosage of coagulants such as potash alum and ferric chloride to maximize the removal of suspended solids (S.S) from the wastes. For alum, the optimum dosage was found to be 150 mg L^-1, whereas with ferric chloride it was 30 mg L^-1. Experiments carried out in the settling column with the optimum coagulant dosages showed that the coagulation with ferric chloride was much better than with alum, as it removes about 84% S.S from the wastes compared to 70% removal obtained in case of alum. Design curves in terms of percent removal of S.S. vs loading rate and detention time were constructed using data obtained from settling column. These curves can be used in designing the settling tanks employed in the tannery wastes treatment plants.     

Comparison of field techniques for sampling soil solution in an upland peatland

Abstract. Results from recent studies of peatland biogeochemistry suggest that appropriate soil water sampling techniques are required in order to advance our understanding of peatland soil systems. In a comparative field experiment, concentrations of inorganic solutes and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured in soil water extracted at a depth of 10 cm beneath the surface of deep peat by three techniques: zero-tension (z-t) lysimeters, PTFE suction samplers, and polysulfone suction samplers. The majority of solute concentrations were broadly similar, but mean concentrations of silicon, DOC, iron and aluminium in water extracted by z-t lysimeters and PTFE samplers were in ratios of 1:5; 1:2; 1:5 and 1:3 respectively. Mean conductivity and concentrations of chloride and hydrogen ion were significantly larger in the z-t lysimeter samples, which had sodium, potassium and magnesium to chloride ratios that were very similar to local rainfall. The z-t lysimeters appeared to sample macropores preferentially, while the suction samplers collected micropore water.     

Amounts of carbon mineralised and leached as DOC during decomposition of Norway spruce needles and fine roots

Changes in climate or forest management practices leading to increased litter production will most likely cause increased leaching rates of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the O horizon. The rhizosphere is often assumed to have a large carbon flux associated with root turnover and exudation. However, little has been done to quantify the amount of DOC originating from root litter. We studied decomposition of fine root and needle litter of Norway spruce (Picea abies) through a combined incubation and leaching experiment in the laboratory using five different litter types: fresh needle litter, aged needles from the litter layer, fresh and dead roots from mineral soil samples, and seven-year-old roots from a previous litterbag study. After respiration measurements, the samples were percolated with artificial throughfall water and DOC and UV absorbance were measured in the leachate. Mineralisation of dissolved organic matter in the leachate and sorption of DOC to ferrihydrite were determined as a measure of DOC ability to be stabilised by iron (hydr)oxide surfaces.The mineralisation rate and DOC production rate of root samples were always lower than that of needle samples. However, root and needle derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) were similar in terms of aromaticity, as indicated by their specific UV absorbance, and ability to be sorbed by ferrihydrite. For seven-year-old roots, a significantly higher fraction of carbon was lost as DOC (30%) than for younger roots (20%). Furthermore, DOM from old roots bound more strongly to ferrihydrite and is mineralised at a lower rate than DOC from younger roots, suggesting that roots at late stages of decomposition, although a small fraction of total litter, significantly contribute to carbon build-up in mineral soils. The slower decomposition rate of roots compared with needles must be taken into account when modelling litter decomposition.     

Removal of Natural Organic Matter from River Water Using Potassium Ferrate(VI)

In this research, we have investigated the removal efficiency of natural organic matter (NOM) from river and stream water using potassium ferrate(VI). For the study, ferrate was added in 100-ml water sample mixed either with humic acid or with fulvic acid. The removal efficiency at the ferrate dose of 2–46 mg/l (as Fe) was 21–74% for 10 mg/l humic acid and 48–78% for 10 mg/l fulvic acid. NOM was more effectively removed either at lower pH or at higher temperature. The removal performance by ferrate was comparable to that by traditional coagulants (i.e., alum, FeSO₄·7H₂O, and FeO(OH)). In addition, the removal rate of humic acid using traditional coagulants was improved by pretreatment with a very small dose of ferrate. The reaction between ferrate and humic acid was completed within 60 s, while showing first-order kinetic, and then reached a steady state.     

Treatment of cork process wastewater by a successive chemical-physical method

In cork processing, the operation of boiling the raw cork generates large volumes of wastewater which are more often than not released directly into the environment untreated. Even when the wastewater is treated, this is usually by retention in evaporation ponds. This procedure, however, causes bad odors and may pollute surface water and groundwater. The present study evaluates a physicochemical method involving Fenton oxidation and coagulation/flocculation for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total polyphenols (TP), and aromatic compounds (A) from cork manufacturing process wastewater. The experimental variables studied were the dosages of iron salts (from 0.001 to 0.2 mol/L) and hydrogen peroxide (between 0.06 and 1 mol/L). The integrated Fenton-coagulation/flocculation process reduced the COD of the effluent by from 22% to 85%. The removal of total polyphenols ranged from 4% to 98%, and of aromatic compounds from 2% to 97%. A further two experiments were performed modifying the manner in which the reagents were added, splitting the reagent dose (of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous salt) into two and three fractions. Finally, an economic study was made of the chemical costs deriving from the application of this purification system. The cost of a treatment with an [H2O2](o)/COD(o) ratio of 1.8 g/g (splitting the reagent dose into three fractions) that yields a COD removal of 73% was estimated to be 11.5 euros/m(3) of wastewater.     

Effect of leaching of DOC on pore characteristic of a sandy soil

Changes of microstructural properties of a sandy soil from a former sewage farm due to the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were studied. The leaching of DOC at various pH values was induced using sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid solutions. The removal of DOC altered the pore properties of the remaining solid. The average pore radius measured from water vapor desorption isotherms (micropores range) increased with the increase of the removed DOC under alkaline conditions and did practically not alter under acid treatment. The average pore radius measured by the mercury intrusion porosimetry (mesopores range), decreases, however, for low amounts of the DOC extracted and increases on extracting higher DOC amounts. The mesopores appeared to be fractal. At moderate amounts of the DOC leached the finer mesopores occurred having the higher fractal dimensions than the coarser mesopores.     

Retention of dissolved organic matter by illitic soils and clay fractions: Influence of mineral phase properties

The dependency of the retention of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on mineral phase properties in soils remains uncertain especially at neutral pH. To specifically elucidate the role of mineral surfaces and pedogenic oxides for DOC retention at pH 7, we sorbed DOC to bulk soil (illitic surface soils of a toposequence) and corresponding clay fraction (< 2 μm) samples after the removal of organic matter and after removal of organic matter and pedogenic oxides. The DOC retention was related to the content of dithionite‐extractable iron, specific surface area (SSA, BET‐N₂ method) and cation exchange capacity (pH 7). The reversibility of DOC sorption was determined by a desorption experiment. All samples sorbed 20–40 % of the DOC added. The DOC sorption of the clay fractions explained the total sorption of the bulk soils. None of the mineral phase properties investigated was able to solely explain the DOC retention. A sorption of 9 to 24 μg DOC m^–2 indicated that DOC interacted only with a fraction of the mineral surface, since loadings above 500 μg m^–2 would be expected for a carbon monolayer. Under the experimental conditions used, the surface of the silicate clay minerals seemed to be more important for the DOC sorption than the surface of the iron oxides. The desorption experiment removed 11 to 31 % of the DOC sorbed. Most of the DOC was strongly sorbed.     

Impact on Water Quality of High and Low Density Applications of Spent Mushroom Substrate to Agricultural Lands

We studied the influence of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) land application on water resources. Four study sites, including mushroom farms with low or high density land applications of SMS, and two controls, an alfalfa field and a woodland, were instrumented with soilwater lysimeters and groundwater monitoring wells. Water samples were collected during the dormant season (winter) and growing season (spring). Samples were analyzed for a number of water quality parameters, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), ammonia, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulfate, aluminum, cadmium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, nickel, potassium, silicon, sodium, and zinc. Additional analyses were performed for pesticides commonly used in the cultivation of alfalfa or corn, or for insect control, including methomyl, dimethoate, hexazinone, atrazine, diuron and permethrin.

All agricultural sites had elevated salt concentrations relative to the woodland site. The mushroom farm where SMS was applied in high concentrations had salt concentrations in the soilwater that were 10 to 100 times higher than the other agricultural sites. Of particular note were ammonium, nitrate, chloride, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Each of these were also elevated in the groundwater. The high salt concentrations were reflected in measurements of electrical conductivity. DOC and DON concentrations were also elevated in the soilwater and groundwater. Groundwater from each agricultural site, including the agricultural control, exceeded the primary drinking water standard for nitrate.

No pesticide residues were detected in well or lysimeter water collected at either site amended with SMS. Water samples collected from the woodland and at the alfalfa field not receiving SMS contained part per trillion quantities of a few pesticides.     

Attenuation of Bulk Organic Matter, Nutrients (N and P), and Pathogen Indicators During Soil Passage: Effect of Temperature and Redox Conditions in Simulated Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT)

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is a cost-effective natural wastewater treatment and reuse technology. It is an environmentally friendly technology that does not require chemical usage and is applicable to both developing and developed countries. However, the presence of organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens poses a major health threat to the population exposed to partially treated wastewater or reclaimed water through SAT. Laboratory-based soil column and batch experiments simulating SAT were conducted to examine the influence of temperature variation and oxidation?Creduction (redox) conditions on removal of bulk organic matter, nutrients, and indicator microorganisms using primary effluent. While an average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal of 17.7?% was achieved in soil columns at 5?°C, removal at higher temperatures increased by 10?% increments with increase in temperature by 5?°C over the range of 15 to 25?°C. Furthermore, soil column and batch experiments conducted under different redox conditions revealed higher DOC removal in aerobic (oxic) experiments compared to anoxic experiments. Aerobic soil columns exhibited DOC removal 15?% higher than that achieved in the anoxic columns, while aerobic batch showed DOC removal 7.8?% higher than the corresponding anoxic batch experiments. Ammonium-nitrogen removal greater than 99?% was observed at 20 and 25?°C, while 89.7?% was removed at 15?°C, but the removal substantially decreased to 8.8?% at 5?°C. While ammonium-nitrogen was attenuated by 99.9?% in aerobic batch reactors carried out at room temperature, anoxic experiments under similar conditions revealed 12.1?% ammonium-nitrogen reduction, corresponding to increase in nitrate-nitrogen and decrease in sulfate concentration.     

Effect of peroxidation on soil electrochemical properties

Treatment with hydrogen peroxide to destroy the organic matter shifts the surface charge towards positive values. This is in agreement with the suggestion that per oxidation produces artefacts in the soil residues, since metals released from organic matter precipitate as hydroxide coating and produce positively charged surfaces. In the presence of 0.1 M sodium pyrophosphate, treatment with hydrogen peroxide always shifts the surface charge towards negative values, notwithstanding the removal of the electronegative organic components. It is suggested that the bulk of electropositive iron and aluminium oxides in soil are associated with the organic matter and removed by the treatment, so that permanent negative charges of clay minerals dominate in soil residue.     

外源添加作物秸秆对PAHs污染土壤有机碳矿化和污染物降解的影响

本文通过土壤腐解试验研究外源添加水稻或玉米秸秆对多环芳烃（PAHs）污染土壤CO2-C释放和污染物去除率的影响，同时清晰秸秆腐解中间产物溶解性有机碳（DOC）与土壤PAHs降解的关系。结果表明：秸秆添加处理促进了PAHs污染土壤CO2-C的释放，以玉米秸秆提升效果较好。外源添加秸秆显著增加了土壤DOC含量，且增加幅度随秸秆添加量的增加而增大；水稻秸秆对土壤DOC含量的提升幅度较大。与对照相比，秸秆添加处理下土壤菲、芘残留量均显著降低，菲、芘去除率显著增加，去除效果：玉米＞水稻，高量＞低量，菲＞芘；与对照相比，添加高量玉米秸秆处理（PY15）对土壤菲、芘去除率的增加幅度分别为91.7%和182%。此外，在一定范围内土壤DOC含量与PAHs去除率呈正相关关系。可见，农作物秸秆，尤其是玉米秸秆添加可提升PAHs污染土壤有机碳矿化，亦可在提升土壤DOC含量的同时促进污染土壤PAHs的降解。     

Influence of dispersion treatments on the properties of soil colloids

The identification and characterization of clay minerals in the soil have been carried out on the clay fraction separated from a dispersed soil suspension. The process of dispersion includes the replacement of exchangeable divalent cations with H-ions by the dilute acid treatment, the removal of organic matter with hydrogen peroxide, and the dissolution of free iron oxides with reducing and/or chelating agents.     

有机物料输入稻田提高土壤微生物碳氮及可溶性有机碳氮

土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮是土壤碳、氮库中最活跃的组分,是反应土壤被干扰程度的重要灵敏性指标,通过设置相同有机碳施用量下不同有机物料处理的田间试验,研究了有机物料添加下土壤微生物量碳（soil microbial biomass carbon,MBC）、氮（soil microbial biomass nitrogen,MBN）和可溶性有机碳（dissolved organic carbon,DOC）、氮（dissolved organic nitrogen,DON）的变化特征及相互关系。结果表明化肥和生物碳、玉米秸秆、鲜牛粪或松针配施下土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮显著大于不施肥处理（no fertilization,CK）和单施化肥处理,分别比不施肥处理和单施化肥平均高23.52%和12.66%（MBC）、42.68%和24.02%（MBN）、14.70%和9.99%（DOC）、22.32%和21.79%（DON）。化肥和有机物料配施处理中,化肥+鲜牛粪处理的微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮最高,比CK高26.20%（MBC）、49.54%（MBN）、19.29%（DOC）和32.81%（DON）,其次是化肥+生物碳或化肥+玉米秸秆处理,而化肥+松针处理最低。土壤可溶性有机碳质量分数（308.87 mg/kg）小于微生物量碳（474.71 mg/kg）,而可溶性有机氮质量分数（53.07 mg/kg）要大于微生物量氮（34.79 mg/kg）。与不施肥处理相比,化肥和有机物料配施显著降低MBC/MBN和DOC/DON,降低率分别为24.57%和7.71%。MBC和DOC、MBN和DON随着土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）、全氮（total nitrogen,TN）的增加呈显著线性增加。MBC、MBN、DOC、DON、DOC+MBC和DON+MBN之间呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）。从相关程度看,DOC+MBC和DON+MBN较MBC、DOC、MBN、DON更能反映土壤中活性有机碳和氮库的变化,成为评价土壤肥力及质量的更有效指标。结果可为提高洱海流域农田土壤肥力,增强土壤固氮效果,减少土壤中氮素流失,保护洱海水质安全提供科学依据。     

Water treatment sludge: a potential plant growth medium

Abstract. The disposal of water treatment sludge produced when turbid water is treated with flocculants (alum and polyDADMAC) and filtered for clarification is becoming increasingly expensive in South Australia. The physical and chemical properties of the sludge suggest that it might be used as a plant growth medium, and a glasshouse experiment compared the growth and elemental composition of broad beans in both alum and polyDADMAC sludge applied at different rates.
Dry matter production differed significantly between treatments. Poly + Fertilizer (F) and Poly 4%+ F produced the most dry matter. The Alum + F treatment produced significantly less dry matter than the Poly + F treatment but it was not significantly different from the control. The difference in plant growth between the pure poly and pure alum treatments resulted from increased availability of the fertilizer phosphorus in the poly sludge and the supply of some potassium and nitrogen by the poly sludge. Fertilizer was required for optimum plant growth. Greater rates of fertilizer may be required if alum sludge is to be used as a growth medium, than if poly sludge is used.
There was no evidence that aluminium toxicity would be a problem if water treatment sludges are used as growth media. The physical properties of the sludges (i.e. water holding capacity, drainage characteristics and structural stability) are probably more important than their inherent nutrient levels, although poly sludge does supply some nitrogen and does not fix phosphorus to the same extent as alum sludge.     

Dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen and carbon in a Central European Norway spruce ecosystem

Dissolved organic nitrogen and carbon (DOC) are significant in the C and N cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. Little is known about their dynamics in the field and the factors regulating their concentrations and fluxes. We followed the fluxes and concentrations of the two in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest ecosystem in Germany from 1995 to 1997 by sampling at fortnightly intervals. Bulk precipitation, throughfall, forest floor percolates from different horizons and soil solutions from different depths were analysed for major ions, dissolved organic N and DOC. The largest fluxes and concentrations were observed in percolates of the Oi layer, which contain amino N and amino sugar N as the major components. The average ratio of dissolved organic C to N in forest floor percolates corresponded to the C/N ratio of the solid phase. Concentrations and fluxes were highly dynamic with time and decreased with depth. The largest fluxes in forest floor percolates occurred when the snow melted. The concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic N were significantly correlated with DOC, but the correlation was weak, indicating different mechanisms of release and consumption. The dynamics of dissolved organic N and DOC in forest floor percolates were not explained by pH and ionic strength of the soil solution nor by the water flux, despite large variations in these. Furthermore, the release of these fractions from the forest floor was not related to the quality and amount of throughfall. Concentrations of dissolved organic N in forest floor percolates increased with soil temperature, while temperature effects on DOC were less pronounced, but their fluxes from the forest floor were not correlated with temperature. In the growing season concentrations of both dissolved organic N and C in forest floor percolates decreased with increasing intensity of throughfall. Thus, the average throughfall intensity was more important than the amount of percolate in regulating their concentrations in forest floor percolates. Our data emphasize the role of dissolved organic N and DOC in the N and C cycle of forest ecosystems.