title: Differentiation of wastewater effluent organic matter (EfOM) from natural organic matter (NOM) using multiple analytical techniques.
abstract: Using three analytical techniques of size exclusion chromatography (SEC), fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) measurement, differentiating characteristics of effluent organic matter (EfOM) from natural organic matter (NOM) have been investigated. SEC reveals a wide range of molecular weight (MW) for EfOM and high amount of high MW polysaccharides, and low MW organic acids compared to NOM. Clear protein-like peaks using fluorescence EEM were a major feature of EfOM distinguishing it from NOM. Fluorescence index (FI), an indicator to distinguish autochthonous origin from allochthonous origin, differentiated EfOM from NOM by exhibiting higher values, indicating a microbial origin. In EfOM samples, DON present in higher amounts than NOM.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Seong-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amy
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000032:analysis*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009584:Nitrogen; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D009584:Nitrogen