ANALYSIS OF POLARITY FRACTIONATED DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER USING 3-D FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION-EMISSION MATRIX SPECTROSCOPY

摘要

The structural composition and chemical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are of great interest to researchers in varied fields of scientific interest. DOM is composed of humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) and other organic chemical groups, including proteins and carbohydrates. DOM is an important component of many environmental processes including the transport and bioavailability of synthetic organic chemicals, the regulation of the global carbon cycle and water treatment processes. Furthermore, DOM serves as the main substrate for the formation of carcinogenic disinfection by-products during chemical oxidation. All the aforementioned processes are dependent on the specific nature of DOM, including its different components and chemical reactivity. Ideally, a three-dimensional model of DOM would serve to predict many of its effects but due to its variable nature and structural fragility this may not be a realistic goal. Instead, different analytical techniques are used to gather information based on composite or average parameters, including polarity.