Chlorophyll a and Suspended Organic Matter in Oil Refinery Effluent Holding Ponds

Chlorophyll a and suspended organic matter were measured in an oil refinery effluent holding pond series in northern Oklahoma from July 1961 to July 1962. Correlation was made between these variables and the photosynthetic production of oxygen. Chlorophyll concentrations ranged between 0.005 and 1.35 mg/liter, with the maximum occurring near the middle of the pond system. Suspended organic matter ranged between 1.0 and 101.0 mg/liter and was correlated with the chlorophyll concentration, indicating that phytoplankton was the major contributor of organic matter. Assimilation numbers ranged between 1 and 13, decreasing as chlorophyll concentrations increased.