• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to maximize the potential of fluorescence 3D excitation-emission matrix (EEM) for predicting the trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) of DOM with various sources. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a useful tool for characterizing dissolved organic matter (DOM). In this study, differential spectroscopy was applied to EEM for the prediction of THMFP, in which the difference between the EEM before and after chlorination was taken into account to obtain the differential EEM (DEEM). For characterization of the original EEM or the DEEM, the maximum intensities of several different fluorescence regions in EEM, fluorescence EEM regional integration (FRI), and humification index (HIX) were calculated and used for the surrogates for THMFP prediction. After chlorination, the fluorescence intensity decreased by 77% to 93%. In leaf-derived and effluent DOM, there was a significant decrease in the protein-like peak, while a more pronounced decrease was observed in the humic-like peak of river DOM. In general, leaf-derived and effluent DOM exhibited a relatively lower THMFP than the river DOM. Our results were consistent with the high correlations between humic-like fluorescence and THMFP previously reported. In this study, HIX (r= 0.815, p<0.001), FRI region V (r=0.727, p<0.001), humic-like peak (r= 0.827, p<0.001) from DEEM presented very high correlations with THMF P. When the humic-like peak intensity was converted to a logarithmic scale, a higher correlation was obtained (r= 0.928, p<0.001). This finding suggests that the humic-like peak in DEEM can serve as a universal predictor for THM formation of DOM with various origins.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.9
• /
• pp.940-948
• /
• 2006

Fluorescence measurements of dissolved organic matter(DOM) have the superior advantages over other analysis tools for applying to water quality management. They are simple and fast and require minimal pretreatment of samples. Fluorescence index($F_{450}/F_{500}$), synchronous spectra, and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices(EEM) of various DOM samples were investigated to discriminate autochthonous/allochthonous composition, protein-like fluorescence, fulvic-like fluorescence, humic-like fluorescence, terestrial humic-like fluorescence by comparing among the real DOM samples of different origins with the help of literature. The samples used included standard purified DOM, lake, river and wastewater treatment effluent. The relative distribution of various DOM composition was derived from the ratios of each fluorescence region. The results were very consistent with those expected from the sample properties. Allochthonous and terrestrial humic-like fluorescence were more prominent in the samples with abundant soil-derived DOM components. In addition, the protein-like fluorescence property was more pronounced in the samples where strong algal or microbial activities were expected. It was also shown that the ratio of protein-like/terrestrial humic-like fluorescence obtained from synchronous spectrum and fluorescence EEM could be used as an indicator for the evaluation of wastewater treatment on the downstream water quality of rivers and for the prediction of the degree of algal/microbial activities in lakes. It is expected that the results of this study will provide the basic information to develop the future water quality management techniques using DOM fluorescence measurements.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.344-354
• /
• 2021

Optical methods such as UV and fluorescence spectrophotometers can be applied not only in the qualitative analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM), but also in real-time quantitative DOM monitoring for wastewater and natural water. In this study, we measure the UV₂₅₄ and fluorescence excitation emission spectra for a sewage treatment plant influent and effluent, and river water before and after sewage effluent flows into the river to examine the composition and origin of DOM. In addition, a correlation analysis between quantified DOM characteristics and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was conducted. Based on the fluorescence excitation emission spectra analysis, it was confirmed that the protein-type tryptophan-like DOM was the dominant substance in the influent, and that the organic matter exhibited relatively more humic properties after biological treatment. However, DOM in river water showed the fluorescence characteristics of terrestrial humic-like and algal tyrosine-like (protein-like) organic matter. In addition, a correlation analysis was conducted between the DOC and optical indices such as UV₂₅₄, the fluorescence intensity of protein-like and humic-like organic matter, then DOC prediction models were suggested for wastewater and river monitoring during non-rainfall and rainfall events. This study provides basic information that can improve the understanding of the contribution of DOC concentration by DOM components, and can be used for organic carbon concentration management in wastewater and natural water.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.843-849
• /
• 2007

Monitoring of NOM characteristics is important for improving removal efficiency of natural organic matter (NOM) in water treatment processes. In this study, several NOM characteristics, which include specific UV absorbance (SUVA), total carbonate content, molecular weight distribution, and fluorescence properties, were measured using samples collected from a pilot-scale water treatment plant consisting of coagulation/flocculation (C/F), filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC) processes. The highest removal of NOM was observed in C/F and filtration processes as demonstrated by the reduction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 25% and 21%, respectively. Despite nearly no change in DOC, however, the lowest SUVA value and the highest total carbohydrate content were observed in the sample from ozonation process. This indicates that non-degradable aromatic compounds become depleted and biodegradable organic compounds are enriched during the process. Comparison of synchronous fluorescence spectra of the samples showed that ozoation process increased protein-like fluorescence while it decreased fulvic-like and terrestrial humic-like fluorescence. Consistently, a slight peak of protein-like fluorescence was observed in the sample from ozonation process. The greatest change in molecular weight distributions of the samples was observed in C/F process. Comparison of size exclusion chromatogram of the samples revealed that NOM fractions with the molecular weight greater than 2000 Da were reduced by over 90% after C/F process. SUVA values and total carbohydrate content of the samples were well correlated with a ratio of protein-like fluorescence and terrestrial humic-like fluorescence intensities with the correlation coefficients of 0.99 and 0.91, respectively. This suggests that synchronous fluorescence properties of NOM could be used as useful tolls for monitoring changes of some NOM characteristics during water treatment processes.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.72-81
• /
• 2022

Numerous studies have investigated the occurrence and fate of microplastics in the environment; however, only limited effort has been devoted to exploring the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached from microplastics. In microplastic (MP)-contaminated environment, MPs are typically mixed with naturally-occurring particles, which interferes with their detection in the environment. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between the DOM leached from MPs and those leached from natural particles and also to characterize their properties. This study investigated DOM leaching behavior from MPs (polystyrene: PS, polyvinylchloride: PVC) and natural particulates (forest soil: FS, litter leaves: LL) under light, which is considered one of the main weathering processes that affect MPs in the environment. The leached DOM concentrations and fluorescence characteristics were compared under dark versus light conditions. Regardless of the origins, UV light promoted DOM release from all the particulates. More DOM was released from natural particles than from MPs under both conditions. However, the effect of promoting DOM release by UV was more pronounced for MPs than for natural particles. It was observed from fluorescence spectra that the intensity of the humic-like region was substantially reduced when MP-derived DOM was exposed to UV light, whereas the change of intensity was very little for natural particles. Under light conditions, the ratio of protein-like to humic-like fluorescence of MP-derived DOM was higher than that of DOM from natural particles. This study implies that a substantial amount of DOM could be leached from MPs even in MP-polluted environment under UV irradiation. Protein/humic fluorescence ratio could be utilized as a fast probing indicator to separate the two sources of particles under light.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.292-302
• /
• 2011

The Lake Sihwa watershed includes industrial, urban, and rural areas simultaneously. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in spatial-temporal runoff patterns at representative sites having different land use in the watershed of Lake Sihwa. The result of synchronous and 3D-EEMs(3-Dimensional Excitation Emission Matrix Spectroscopy) analysis in 4TG (industrial area), fluorescence distribution and variation clearly appeared in the Fulvic-like fluorescence (FLF) and Humic-like fluorescence (HLF) regions along with the Protein-like fluorescence (PLF) region. A characteristic that Peak A (HLF) region fluorescence intensity did not decrease and the HLF region of fluorescence intensity and spatial-temporal changes clearly appeared during rainfall in AS (urban area). The results of fluorescence analysis in MS did not show great changes in PLF and FLF while showing that fluorescence intensity changes over time in the Terrestrial-like fluorescence (THLF) region increased greatly. In conclusion, our results showed significant differences in the runoff characteristics of DOM particularly in industrial, urban and rural area, and these differences should be considered for the efficient controlling of DOM in the watershed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.803-810
• /
• 2009

This study is conducted to examine spatial variations of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in stream and waste waters of the different watershed areas (agricultural, residential, and industrial complex area) by using fluorescence 3D-EEMs (3 Dimensional Excitation Emission Matrix Spectroscopy). Furthermore, the research investigates the changes of DOM characterization by synchronous and 3D-EEMs during a rainfall event. The characterizations of DOM obtained by 3D-EEMs show two noticeable peaks at humic and protein-like regions. Humic-like substances (HLS) are found in rural and urban areas, and humic and protein-like substances (PLS) are shown in industrial area. According to the fluorescence peak $T_1:C_1$ ratios, it is observed that high amount of HLS was discharged from Banweol Industrial Complex (3TG). Additionally, linear relationships (Regression rate, $r^2$=0.65, $r^2$=0.66) have been shown between PLS (peak $T_1,\;B_1$) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which indicates the impact of sewage. For the rainfall event (30 mm), no remarkable difference of DOM was found at rural area except increment of fluorescence intensity comparing dry period. In contrast, HLS at urban area is highly discharged within 30 minutes from the beginning of rainfall. Also, there are high influences of HLS and PLS within 20 minutes at industrial complex (4TG). Fluorescence 3D-EEMs has not only verifies a watershed of DOM origination but also monitors diffuse and point source impacts.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.399-408
• /
• 2018

This research investigated the effects of weir (Ipobo) construction on the dynamics and the related spatial distributions of pollutants inflowing from tributaries (Yanghwacheon and Bokhacheon). Conductivity measurements and water sampling were conducted longitudinally, horizontally, and vertically in the waterbody upstream of the area located in Ipobo. Additionally, collected water samples were used for the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis and fluorescence analysis which results in the SUVA, HIX, BIX, and FI calculation and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Consequently, the results of the Conductivity, DOC, SUVA, and HIX showed that high concentration of pollutants that were flowing from the area of Bokhacheon which was mixed along the flow of the main river. The results of the BIX and FI did not show significant difference along the river flow which represented that allochthonous and terrestrial DOM, and for this reason was dominated in the whole waterbody rather than just the autochthonous DOM. The PARAFAC results showed that the two fluorescence components, humic-like and protein-like, constituted the fluorescence matrices of the water samples. The prevailing discipline notes that the two components were inflowing from the tributaries, however, a refractory component, humic-like substances, was relatively accumulated near the weir. From the results, the dynamics and spatial distributions of the DOM are dependent on the DOM characteristics, which induces the application of a specialized DOM analysis method to investigate the effects of a subsequent weir construction on the dynamics and spatial distributions of pollutants inflowing from the tributaries.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.42-51
• /
• 2012

This study investigated the characteristics of natural organic matter (NOM) with general water characteristics (pH, DO, electrical conductivity, BOD, COD, TN, TP, Chl-$a$, DOC, $UV_{254}$, SUVA) and the 3D fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (FEEM) in the Yeongsan River basin. FEEM was used to classify protein-like and fulvic & humiclike substances with fluorescence intensity in the matrix of excitation and emission wavelength. The concentration of BOD, COD, TN, electrical conductivity and DOC in the region of Gwangju city (Gwangju sewage treatment plant: GJS, Gwangjucheon: GJC, Gwangju 2: GJ2) was relatively higher than the upper reaches and lower reaches of the Yeongsan River basin. SUVA in most sites was lower than 3 L $mg^{-1}\;m^{-1}$ as the hydrophilic substances, except Damyang (DY) in the upper reaches of Yeongsan river was higher than 3 L $mg^{-1}\;m^{-1}$ as the hydrophobic substances during winter and autumn. In the FEEM investigation the fulvic and humic substances were found in most sites, and in sites regarding Gwangju city (GJS, GJC, GJ2) during winter and GJC in summer, protein-like substances were found. The trend of fluorescence intensities from the upper reaches to the lower reaches in most sites corresponded to that regarding the concentration of water characteristics (BOD, COD, TN, DOC). That is why the region of Gwangju city (GJS, GJC, GJ2) was relatively higher. This results were an equivalent trend to those of fluorescence index (FI) in most sites, and the higher FIs in the sites of Gwangju city indicate more microbial-derived substances due to enormous effluent organic matters (EfOM) from huge Gwangju sewage treatment plants.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.465-474
• /
• 2023

The chemical composition and molecular weight characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exert a profound influence on the efficiency of organic matter removal in water treatment systems, acting as efficiency predictive indicators. This research evaluated the primary chemical and molecular weight properties of DOM derived from diverse sources, including rivers, lakes, and biomasses, and assessed their relationship with the efficiency of coagulation/flocculation treatments. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal efficiency through coagulation/flocculation exhibited significant correlations with DOM's hydrophobic distribution, the ratio of humic-like to protein-like fluorescence, and the molecular weight associated with humic substances (HS). These findings suggest that the DOC removal rate in coagulation/flocculation processes is enhanced by a higher presence of HS in DOM, an increased influence of externally sourced DOM, and more presence of high molecular weight compounds. The results of this study further posit that the efficacy of water treatment processes can be more accurately predicted when considering multiple DOM characteristics rather than relying on a singular trait. Based on major results from this study, a predictive model for DOC removal efficiency by coagulation/flocculation was formulated as: 24.3 - 7.83 × (fluorescence index) + 0.089 × (hydrophilic distribution) + 0.102 × (HS molecular weight). This proposed model, coupled with supplementary monitoring of influent organic matter, has the potential to enhance the design and predictive accuracy for coagulation/flocculation treatments targeting DOC removal in future applications.