Dissolved Carbohydrates in the Surface Water Bodies of Ukraine

Abstract

Results of the study of the content of dissolved carbohydrates and their seasonal distribution in surface water bodies of various types (lakes, rivers, and reservoirs) are analyzed in the paper. It has been shown that the concentration of organic compounds of this group varies over a wide range − from 0.4 to 4.9 mg/L (in calculating per glucose content) depending on the type of a water body and its trophic state. The highest concentration of carbohydrates was observed in the Ternopol Reservoir located on the Seret River (within the territory of the town of Ternopol) and in the second Kitayevo pond (within the territory of Kiev). In terms of the average per year values, a relative content of carbohydrates varies from 4.7 to 16.4% of the total content of carbon of dissolved organic matter (Corg). Data on the content of this organic matter in various water bodies of the other regions of the world are also given. In the studied water bodies, carbohydrates are represented by the compounds with a wide interval of their molecular mass − from < 1.0 to > 70.0 kDa. However, high molecular compounds (polysaccharides) prevail in their composition. Their contribution to the total content of dissolved carbohydrates on the average accounts for 67.7−83.7%. Seasonal variations in the content of a low molecular fraction of carbohydrates (< 1.0 kDa) are considered.