Phosphine in soils, sludges, biogases and atmospheric implications—a review

Abstract

This is a review of previously published and unpublished results of research into the occurrence of phosphine (PH 3 ) in the environment in the form of matrix bound phosphine in soils, aquatic sediments and sludges (range ng kg −1 to g kg −1 ), free phosphine in formed biogases (range ng m −3 to g m −3 ) and in the atmosphere (range pg m −3 to ng m −3 ). The reviewed data support the hypothesis of the existence of a small gaseous link in the phosphorus cycle, which could become important over the long term.Matrix-bound phosphine in soils can be interpreted as a stationary state concentration of phosphine between production and consumption. This phosphine turnover within the soil may be important even if the stationary state concentration (matrix-bound phosphine) is small. Under such circumstances, a slow migration process of phosphine in the interstitial gas sphere of soils is possible. Such a process would influence the balance of phosphorus in agricultural and wetland soil.The detection of easily oxidizable phosphine as a ubiquitous trace gas in the atmosphere can be interpreted as the residue of an important turnover of phosphine between widely distributed emission sources and sinks such as soils and sediments. The atmosphere can carry gaseous phosphorus to remote places.

The Role of Buffer Zones for Agricultural Runoff

“…Under the reduced conditions typically prevalent in wetlands, Dèvai et al (1988) reported that oxidised P compounds were reduced to phosphine, which was subsequently emitted to the atmosphere at a rate of 1.7 g P m −2 per year (a −1 ). To date there has been very little research into this process, which requires further investigation in order to determine if it is signifi cant in terms of quantity of P exported, and the fate of gaseous P. Glindemann et al (2005) have provided a useful review of research into the evolution of phosphine in a range of sediments.…”

BIOSIGNATURE GASES IN H2-DOMINATED ATMOSPHERES ON ROCKY EXOPLANETS

“…As an aside about phosphine (PH 3 ), we note that trace amounts of phosphine are produced by some anaerobic ecologies on Earth (Glindemann et al 2005). It is controversial whether the microorganisms in these environments are making PH 3 or whether the bacteria are making acid that is attacking environmental iron that contains traces of phosphide and this attack is making the phosphine gas (Roels & Verstraete 2001).…”

Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX): towards a holistic understanding of the feedbacks and interactions in the land–atmosphere–ocean–society continuum in the northern Eurasian region

“…Atmospheric phosphorus mainly originates from aeolian dust, sea spray, and combustion . Gaseous forms of phosphorus are scarce, and their importance for atmospheric processes is unknown (Glindemann et al, 2005).…”