Detection of tyrosine, trace metals and nutrients in cow dung: the environmental significance in soil and water environments

Abstract

This study examined the dissolved organic matter (DOM) components of cow dung using a combination of fluorescence (excitation–emission matrix, EEM) spectroscopy and parallel factor (PARAFAC) modelling along with eleven trace metals using ICP-MS and nutrients (NH4+ and NO3−) using an AA3 auto analyser. EEM–PARAFAC analysis demonstrated that cow dung predominantly contained only one fluorescent DOM component with two fluorescence peaks (Ex/Em = 275/311 nm and Ex/Em = 220/311 nm), which could be denoted as tyrosine by comparison with its standard. Occurrence of tyrosine can be further confirmed by the FTIR spectra. Trace metals analysis revealed that Na, K and Mg were significantly higher than Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn Sr, Cu, Ni and Co. The NH4+ concentrations were substantially higher than NO3−. These results thus indicate that the dissolved components of the cow dung could be useful for better understanding its future uses in various important purposes.