Our glossary explains technical terms from the area water research. We hope it facilitates the understanding of this publication. If you have comments or suggestions, please use our
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Oligodynamic effect
Damaging effect of metal cations (positively charged metal ions) on living cells.
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Oligotrophic
Low in nutrients (see also ->Eutrophic and ->Mesotrophic). (->Eutrophication).
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O-phosphate
Oxygen-phosphate bond (O is the symbol for the chemical element oxygen).
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Oxidation all-metal catalysts
Catalysts (reaction accelerators) that clean water using oxygen.
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Oxygen-reducing combination reactors
Contaminated groundwater does not usually contain any dissolved oxygen since it has been used up (as in the case of combustion) for the oxidation of carbon – i.e. the contaminant compounds. Combination reactors are used in the successive treatment of pollutant mixtures for the complete degradation of all contaminants, oxygen is first added to the water to bring about positive redox conditions. Thereafter, the groundwater returns to a negative redox condition, i.e. absence of oxygen. Some additional pollutants can then be destroyed in these reduced conditions.
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Oxygen-reduction environment
A redox reaction (or more precisely reduction oxidation reaction) is a chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred from one reactant to another. Such electron transfer reactions therefore involve the loss of electrons (oxidation, as in the case of combustion) by one substance and the gain of electrons (reduction) by another. In this context, the oxygen-reduction environment describes the chemical state of the surrounding medium.
