Characterisation of dissolved organic matter in Parisian urban aquatic systems: predominance of hydrophilic and proteinaceous structures

Abstract

Understanding the nature of organic matter is a necessary first step in assessing contaminant bioavailability and allowing water supply managers to optimise the treatment train in the aim of providing safe and inexpensive drinking water. This study provides further insight into the composition, structure and functional groups of dissolved organic matter (DOM) (both hydrophobic and hydrophilic) from urban aquatic systems by means of various analytical techniques (DAX-8/XAD-4 fractionation, elemental analysis, UV and FTIR spectroscopies, (13)C and (15)N isotopic analysis, size exclusion chromatography and Pyrolysis-GC-MS). The analytical range chosen for this study constitutes a powerful tool in the characterisation of DOM in urban water. The inclusion of information from one technique to the next might not only serve as a support to each one, but also as a complement. The DOM fraction from treated effluent and, more generally, DOM from urban water (i.e. receiving treated effluent) display a strong hydrophilic characteristic [i.e. low humic substance (HS) content, low SUVA], along with a high distribution in molecular weights observed by SEC and low average molecular weight. Due to the origin of this DOM, proteinaceous structures constitute the main compounds, as observed by FTIR and Py-GC-MS. Such characteristics (i.e. heterogeneity, low average molecular weight and diverse functional groups, which make up a total of N) could explain that DOM from treated effluent displayed a strong reactive potential metals pollutants as previously demonstrated

Citrate-Coated Silver Nanoparticles Interactions with Effluent Organic Matter: Influence of Capping Agent and Solution Conditions

“…34,35 Conversely, higher SUVA 254 values have been observed for humic material isolated from high DOC/highly colored surface waters (e.g., 4.0 and 4.8 for Gartempe River and Suwannee River NOM, respectively). 19 This moderate WW humic SUVA 254 value would indicate a different aromatic character as compared to River humic.…”

Seasonal Effect and Removal of Disinfection by Products from Sakarya River by Ozone and Membrane Processes

“…The second peak, on the other hand, shows that there are C=O aromatic bonds seen in the 1640-1550 cm−1 bandwidth [16,17]. It was observed that the aromatic structure observed in this band stem from structures like cyclic and alicyclic compounds that have low wave numbers, ketones and aromatic carboxylic acids [18,19]. According to these results, it is observed that there are some changes, although little, in the peak values with membrane, ozone and ozone+membrane treatments.…”

“…The 3400-3300 cm−1 peak shows the O-H stretching bonds [16,17]. This peak stems from the humic matters like alcohols, phenols and carboxylic acids that are frequently observed in water [18]. The second peak, on the other hand, shows that there are C=O aromatic bonds seen in the 1640-1550 cm−1 bandwidth [16,17].…”

From land to water, an overview of organic matter research in France––proceedings of the Sainte-Maxime 2009 symposium organized by the French network on organic matter research

“…These anthropogenic inputs modify the nature of dissolved organic matter (DOM). For example, OM in the treated effluent of waste-water displays a strong proteinaceous nature, which is interpreted as a result of the intense microbial activity during urban water treatment (Pernet-Coudrier et al 2011). Moreover, it has been shown that when compost is added to a soil, the hydrophobic compounds remain selectively on solid surfaces whereas more hydrophilic compounds are exported in solution (Jardine et al 1989, Kaiser et al 1996.…”