Fluorescence Properties of Size Fractions of Dissolved Organic Matter Originated From Different Sources

Fluorescence properties and carbohydrate content were investigated using ultrafiltrated size fractions of dissolved organic matters (DOM) originated from different sources. The materials included a treated sewage, an algal organic matter, and a soil leachate, all of which are major constituents of dissolved organic matter in a typical urban river. Four different size fractions were separated from the three sources of each DOM. The size distribution demonstrated that a higher molecular weight fraction was more present in soil leachate compared to two other source DOMs. A higher content of carbohydrates was observed in the following order - algal DOM > treated sewage > soil leachate. A wide range of specific UV absorbance was observed from size fractions of a single source DOM, indicating that aromatic carbon structures are heterogeneously distributed within one source of DOM. The structural heterogeneity was the most pronounced for the soil leachate. The fluorescence index ($F_{450}/F_{500}$) of the treated sewage was similar to that (2.0) typically obtained from autochthonous DOM, suggesting that the treated sewage exhibited autochthonous organic matter-like properties. No protein-like fluorescence intensities were observed for all of the soil leachate size fractions whereas they were observed with two other source DOMs. Based upon the fluorescence peak ratios from fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM), two discrimination indices could be suggested to distinguish three different source DOMs. It is expected that the suggested discrimination indices will be useful to predict the sources of DOM in a typical urban river affected by treated sewage.

생성 기원에 따른 용존 자연유기물질 분자량별 형광특성 비교