Identification of humic acid-like and fulvic acid-like natural organic matter in river water using fluorescence spectroscopy

Identifying the extent of humic acid (HA)-like and fulvic acid (FA)-like natural organic matter (NOM) present in natural water is important to assess disinfection by-product formation and fouling potential during drinking water treatment applications. However, the unique fluorescence properties rela...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2011-01, Vol.63 (10), p.2427-2433
Main Authors: Peiris, R H, Budman, H, Moresoli, C, Legge, R L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Analytical methods
Benzopyrans - analysis
Disinfection
Drinking water
Feasibility studies
Filtration
Fluorescence
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Fouling
Fractionation
Freshwater
Fulvic acids
Humic acids
Humic Substances - analysis
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Ontario
Organic matter
Properties
River water
Rivers
Rivers - chemistry
Sorption
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Water analysis
Water sampling
Water treatment
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Summary:Identifying the extent of humic acid (HA)-like and fulvic acid (FA)-like natural organic matter (NOM) present in natural water is important to assess disinfection by-product formation and fouling potential during drinking water treatment applications. However, the unique fluorescence properties related to HA-like NOM is masked by the fluorescence signals of the more abundant FA-like NOM. For this reason, it is not possible to accurately characterize HA-like and FA-like NOM components in a single water sample using direct fluorescence EEM analysis. A relatively simple approach is described here that demonstrates the feasibility of using a fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) approach for identifying HA-like and FA-like NOM fractions in water when used in combination with a series of pH adjustments and filtration steps. It is demonstrated that the fluorescence EEMS of HA-like and FA-like NOM fractions from the river water sample possessed different spectral properties. Fractionation of HA-like and FA-like NOM prior to fluorescence analysis is therefore proposed as a more reasonable approach.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2011.439