Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from vegetation, humus layers and soils of four reservoir catchments in south-eastern Australian were characterised by flash pyrolysis and off-line thermochemolysis using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). The aim of this work was to identify organic compounds which might act as tracers of terrestrially derived bio-macromolecules to the drinking water reservoirs. Organic matter in reservoirs is a key issue to the water industry due to it being a precursor of disinfection by-products, causing taste and odours and is a substrate for microbial growth in a distribution system. Of the pyrolysis products detected from all three sample types (vegetation, humus and soils) most were molecular tracers of polysaccharides and to a lesser extent lignin and protein. Several benzyl and methoxyphenol compounds were detected from these samples that might enable tracing of terrestrial organic input to reservoirs. Compounds detected from vegetation, humus and soil samples by thermochemolysis were predominantly methoxy benzene structures, indicative of lignin sources and tannin, though compounds indicative of polysaccharides, lipids and resins acids were also detected. Ratios of syringyl to courmaryl moieties were found to be highest from locations with native hardwoods and these ratios consistently decreased from vegetation to humus to soil samples.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
