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Study on the spectral and Cu (II) binding characteristics of DOM leached from soils and lake sediments in the Hetao region

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 19, pages 2079–2087 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most active component in environmental system and its chemical and structural characteristics most likely influence its biodegradation. Four surface soil (0–20 cm) and three core sediment samples (0–10 cm) were collected from Wuliangsuhai Lake. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spectral properties and humification degree of DOM and to determine and discuss comparatively the complexing capacities and stability constants of DOM by Cu (II) in the Hetao region.

Materials and methods

In this study, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence quenching methods were used to evaluate the humification degree of DOM and calculate the complexing capacities and the stability constants between DOM and Cu (II).

Results and discussion

Two defined peaks, at wavelengths of 260∼300 nm (peak I) and 300∼350 nm (peak II), could be identified for soil DOM at a Δλ value of 30 nm. In sediment DOM extracts, a third peak (III) was observed near 364 nm. The results show that there is a significant difference in the structure of DOM because of different sources. The humification degree is significantly higher for soil samples than those of sediment samples. The FT-IR spectra of DOM show that structure in sediment DOM is more functional groups than those in soil DOM. DOM has a stronger Cu binding affinity in soils than in sediment in the Hetao region, which may lead to potentially significant influence on the migration and transformation of Cu (II).

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Chinese national water special projects (Program number, 2009ZX07207-004) and Chinese national high-tech research and development projects (Program numbers, 2008AA10Z406).

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Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Energy Microbiology and Application, Biogas Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Xujing Guo, Hui Zhang & Yu Deng

  2. Research Center of Water pollution Control Technologies, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Jinyuan Jiang

  3. Water Environment System Project Laboratory, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Beidou Xi

  4. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Xiaosong He

Authors
  1. Xujing Guo
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  2. Jinyuan Jiang
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  3. Beidou Xi
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  4. Xiaosong He
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  5. Hui Zhang
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  6. Yu Deng
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Correspondence to Xujing Guo.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Guo, X., Jiang, J., Xi, B. et al. Study on the spectral and Cu (II) binding characteristics of DOM leached from soils and lake sediments in the Hetao region. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 2079–2087 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0704-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0704-0

Keywords

  • DOM
  • Synchronous fluorescence spectra
  • Humification degree
  • FT-IR spectra
  • Binding capacity
  • Conditional stability constants