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Characterizing the compositional variation of dissolved organic matter over hydrophobicity and polarity using fluorescence spectra combined with principal component analysis and two-dimensional correlation technique

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Abstract

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) obtained from three leachates with different landfill ages was fractionated, and its compositional variation based on hydrophobicity and polarity was characterized by synchronous fluorescence spectra combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and two-dimensional correlation technique. The results showed that the bulk DOM and its fractions were comprised of tryosine-, tryptophan-, fulvic-, and humic-like substances. Tyrosine-like matter was dominant in the young leachate DOM and its fractions, while tryptophan-, fulvic-, and humic-like substances were the main components in the intermediate and old leachate DOMs and their fractions. Tryosine-, tryptophan-, fulvic-, and humic-like substances varied concurrently with the hydrophobicity and polarity. However, the change ratio of these substances was different for the three leachates. Tyrosine-like matter, humic-like materials, and fulvic-like substances were the most sensitive to the hydrophobicity and polarity in the young, intermediate, and old leachates, respectively. Such an integrated approach jointly enhances the characterization of the hydrophobicity- and polarity-dependent DOM fractions and provides a promising way to elucidate the environmental behaviors of different DOM species.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51408573).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. High-Tech Research Institute, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China

    Ben-Sheng Su, Ying-Hao Song & Li-Min Jia

  2. College of Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China

    Zhen Qu

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

    Xiao-Song He

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

    Xiao-Song He

Authors
  1. Ben-Sheng Su
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  2. Zhen Qu
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  3. Xiao-Song He
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  4. Ying-Hao Song
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  5. Li-Min Jia
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Correspondence to Xiao-Song He.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Su, BS., Qu, Z., He, XS. et al. Characterizing the compositional variation of dissolved organic matter over hydrophobicity and polarity using fluorescence spectra combined with principal component analysis and two-dimensional correlation technique. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 9237–9244 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6173-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6173-8

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