Characterisation of Prolonged Deposits of Organic Matter in Infiltration System Inlets and Their Binding with Heavy Metals: a PARAFAC Approach

Abstract

This study investigated and characterised organic matter present in sediment particles deposited in infiltration facilities using an excitation-emission matrix method combined with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). The organic fluorophore identified was correlated with sediment bound metals. The PARAFAC analysis identified three major components. The fluorophore in each of the three components appeared in different locations with different spectral shapes. The maximum fluorescence intensity (F max) observed for each fluorescent component was correlated with seven heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb). F max of component 1 displayed a negative relationship with all the metals (correlation coefficient = −0.28 to −0.72), and F max of component 3 showed a positive relationship (0.20 to 0.62), and among them, Cu, Ni and Zn had higher correlation. Our results demonstrate that a PARAFAC approach can help to further elucidate organic matter species, thereby allowing a better understanding of the mobility of elemental species in the deposited sediment.