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Using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis to investigate the origin, composition, and dynamics of dissolved organic matter in leachate-polluted groundwater

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Abstract

Groundwater was collected in 2011 and 2012, and fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis was employed to investigate the composition, origin, and dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the groundwater. The results showed that the groundwater DOM comprised protein-, fulvic-, and humic-like substances, and the protein-like component originated predominantly from microbial production. The groundwater pollution by landfill leachate enhanced microbial activity and thereby increased microbial by-product-like material such as protein-like component in the groundwater. Excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra combined with parallel factor analysis showed that the protein-like matter content increased from 2011 to 2012 in the groundwater, whereas the fulvic- and humic-like matter concentration exhibited no significant changes. In addition, synchronous-scan fluorescence spectra coupled with two-dimensional correlation analysis showed that the change of the fulvic- and humic-like matter was faster than that of the protein-like substances, as the groundwater flowed from upstream to downstream in 2011, but slower than that of the protein-like substance in 2012 due to the enhancement of microbial activity. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis can investigate groundwater pollution characteristics and monitor DOM dynamics in groundwater.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51408573 and 51325804).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Xiao-Song He, Bei-Dou Xi, Ru-Tai Gao, Lei Wang, Yan Ma, Dong-Yu Cui & Wen-Bing Tan

  2. Innovation Base of Ground Water & Environmental System Engineering, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Xiao-Song He, Bei-Dou Xi, Ru-Tai Gao, Lei Wang, Yan Ma, Dong-Yu Cui & Wen-Bing Tan

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  1. Xiao-Song He
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  2. Bei-Dou Xi
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  3. Ru-Tai Gao
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  4. Lei Wang
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  5. Yan Ma
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  6. Dong-Yu Cui
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  7. Wen-Bing Tan
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Correspondence to Bei-Dou Xi.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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He, XS., Xi, BD., Gao, RT. et al. Using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis to investigate the origin, composition, and dynamics of dissolved organic matter in leachate-polluted groundwater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 8499–8506 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-4029-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-4029-7

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