Characterizing treated wastewaters of different industries using clustered fluorescence EEM-PARAFAC and FT-IR spectroscopy: implications for downstream impact and source identification.
The quantity and spectroscopic features of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in treated wastewaters were studied for up to 57 facilities across 12 industrial categories to evaluate the potential influences of the effluents on downstream ecosystems and the feasibility of spectroscopic techniques in discriminating pollution sources. The average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 3.30±0.70-73.4±14.0 mg L(-1) for each category, high enough to pollute downstream waterbodies. The average specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA) for each category spanned a broad range between 0.79±0.24 and 5.35±1.41 L(mg m)(-1), suggesting a variable aromaticity of DOM. Fluorescence excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) identified four humic-like and two protein-like components. The EEMs were grouped into seven clusters, five of which were dominated by a single PARAFAC component in each cluster. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed notable variations in relative intensities of several characteristic absorbance bands among different wastewaters. The large variability in SUVA, PARAFAC and FT-IR features indicated that the chemical composition of DOM greatly differ among industrial wastewaters, and further implied variable biogeochemical reactivity in downstream waterbodies. The results also suggested the potential of DOM features in discriminating different wastewaters, although the variations within each industrial category were also significant.
Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, South Korea.
Liyang
L
Yang
Division of Water Environment, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong, 339-007, South Korea.
Dae Ho
DH
Han
Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, South Korea.
Bo-Mi
BM
Lee
Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, South Korea. Electronic address: jinhur@sejong.edu.
Jin
J
Hur
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012995:Solubility; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification; D060753:Water Quality
D006812:Humic Substances; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Dissolved organic matter; FT-IR; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Industrial wastewater; PARAFAC