Partitioning of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Major Elements, and Trace Metals during Laboratory Freezing of Organic Leachates from Permafrost Peatlands

Climate change is likely to modify the freezing–thawing cycles in soils and surface waters of permafrost-affected subarctic regions. However, solution chemical composition during ice formation evolution remaining fluids remain very poorly known. Towards a better understanding dissolved (<0.45 µm) organic carbon, as well major trace element behavior permafrost peatland environments, here we performed laboratory freezing peat leachates, from complete thawing, order quantify partitioning solutes between aqueous ice. Freezing experiments were conducted, with without polyurethane insulation. Two main types involved (i) progressive freezing, when started liquid leachates (filtered <0.45 allowed them freeze at −18 °C, (ii) where first, froze solid series µm filtered then monitored their thawing room temperature, 20 °C. We hypothesized existence two groups solutes, behaving conservatively or non-conservatively depending on incorporation into ability coagulate form insoluble minerals amorphous materials fluid phase. An unexpected result this work was that, despite sizable degree concentration possible coagulation organic, organo-mineral, inorganic compounds, subsequent produced final concentrations most which not drastically different initial original prior freezing. This demonstrates high stability iron, aluminum, some metals repetitive peatlands.