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Investigating the effect of landfill leachates on the characteristics of dissolved organic matter in groundwater using excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectra coupled with fluorescence regional integration and self-organizing map

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Abstract

For the purpose of investigating the effect of landfill leachate on the characteristics of organic matter in groundwater, groundwater samples were collected near and in a landfill site, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was extracted from the groundwater samples and characterized by excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra combined with fluorescence regional integration (FRI) and self-organizing map (SOM). The results showed that the groundwater DOM comprised humic-, fulvic-, and protein-like substances. The concentration of humic-like matter showed no obvious variation for all groundwater except the sample collected in the landfill site. Fulvic-like substance content decreased when the groundwater was polluted by landfill leachates. There were two kinds of protein-like matter in the groundwater. One kind was bound to humic-like substances, and its content did not change along with groundwater pollution. However, the other kind was present as “free” molecules or else bound in proteins, and its concentration increased significantly when the groundwater was polluted by landfill leachates. The FRI and SOM methods both can characterize the composition and evolution of DOM in the groundwater. However, the SOM analysis can identify whether protein-like moieties was bound to humic-like matter.

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

    Xiao-Song He

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

    Xiao-Song He

  3. College of Architecture, North China of University of Water Resource and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 460046, China

    Qin-Dong Fan

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  1. Xiao-Song He
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  2. Qin-Dong Fan
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Correspondence to Xiao-Song He.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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He, XS., Fan, QD. Investigating the effect of landfill leachates on the characteristics of dissolved organic matter in groundwater using excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectra coupled with fluorescence regional integration and self-organizing map. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 21229–21237 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7308-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7308-7

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