Humic Dissolved Organic Matter Research Articles

Insights into relationship between microbial community-induced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation and soluble organic matter transformation during vermiculite-amended sewage sludge composting

Vermiculite is a natural clay mineral with unique properties that are widely used in plant cultivation, soil remediation, and solid waste management. This study investigated the relationship between microbial community-induced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation and dissolved organic matter (DOM) transformation during vermiculite-amended composting of sewage sludge. Four treatments with varying vermiculite percent compositions, 0%, 1%, 5%, and 10%, mixed with initial mix waste, were designed and then composted for 33 days. The results showed that the addition of 1% vermiculite caused the highest losses of 82.19%, 52.98%, and 69.00% for LMW-PAHs (2–3 rings), HMW-PAHs (4–6 rings), and total PAHs respectively compared to other treatments. Spectral and community analyses revealed that 1% vermiculite enhanced the PAHs losses by functional networking of key genera and promoting the aromatization and humification of DOM to format the micelles with PAHs. The transformation and utilization of DOM driven by key genera Acinetobacter, Ochrobactrum, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Bacillus were the important impact factors for the losses of PAHs. Finally, this study provides new insights and a guide for applying vermiculite to sludge composting for PAHs removal.

Spatial differences of dissolved organic matter composition and humification in an artificial lake.

The depth-dependent dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) structure and humification in an artificial lake limits the understanding of lake eutrophication and carbon cycling. Using fluorescence regional integration (FRI) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) models to analyze the 3D fluorescence spectroscopy dataset, we revealed the depth-dependent structure and vertical distribution of DOM in the estuarine and center regions of Lake Hongfeng. The percentage fluorescence response (Pi,n) showed humic acid is an important part of DOM in Lake Hongfeng. Fluorescence results show that the fulvic-like and protein-like materials in HF1-DOM located at the estuarine position showed greater variation in the middle stage, probably due to human influence and sediment suspension. Fluorescence index (PI+II+IV,n/PIII+V,n and FIC4/FIC3) can be used to indicate the degree of humification of DOM in artificial lakes. Results of each index show that the estuary is more affected by human activities, and the humification degree is significantly lower than that of the center of the lake. The evaluation index system of the humification degree of artificial lake established in this study can effectively predict the eutrophication state of the typical area of artificial lake and deeply understand the possible important influence of human activities on the carbon cycle of lake.

Fe(III)-mediated changes in microalgae-associated bacterial communities and dissolved organic matter characteristics: A case study for Chlorococcum sp. GD

Trivalent iron ions (Fe(III)) have important effects on aquatic ecosystems, especially on the functional diversity and stability of microorganisms and ecosystems. Here, a cultivable microalgae (Chlorococcum sp. GD) from the natural environment (Shanxi, China) were isolated and identified. A combined high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing/excitation-emission matrix coupled with parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) analysis was used to integrated the results of Fe(III) influence on Chlorococcum sp. GD bacterial community and dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics through laboratory experiments. Due to the addition of Fe(III) in the form of ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)3·9H2O), complexed with EDTA to maintain solubility and bioavailability, the bacterial community was altered. This led to a decrease in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria and an increase in the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria, especially under excessive Fe(III) treatment. In addition, the relative contribution of bacterial community dispersal limitation and homogenizing dispersal was 100 %, which may lead to differences in their local adaptation and ecological processes with homogenization of bacterial diversity and loss of function. Excessive Fe(III) caused a significant increase in the abundance of genes involved in the carbon cycle (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in genes involved in the nitrogen cycle (p < 0.01), further affecting the overall regulatory network of gene expression. This led to an increase in the abundance of genes involved in metabolism, cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, and human diseases. The moderate amount of Fe(III) promoted the production of microbial components and accelerated the degree of DOM humification. It is also worth mentioning that excessive Fe(III) inhibited DOM degradation. Overall, this work explored the characteristics of bacterial community and DOM changes in Fe(III)-stressed Chlorococcum sp. GD as an example, which contributes to an in-depth understanding of microbial community diversity and element cycling in aquatic ecosystems.

Temporal variations in dissolved organic matter properties in a eutrophic lake under water dilution and aquatic plant litter decomposition: A simulated microcosm study revealing the environmental and microbial driving factors

Dilution by importing external clean water and restoration of aquatic vegetation are widely applied strategies for improving water quality of eutrophic lakes, while the influence of dilution or aquatic plant litter decomposition on dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties, which is closely associated with the health of aquatic ecosystems, is rarely known. In this study, the temporal variations of DOM properties in the overlying water of a eutrophic lake (Yilong lake in Yunnan, southwest China) under water dilution and aquatic plant litter decomposition were comparatively investigated via a simulated microcosm study using in situ samples. The results showed that water dilution reduced DOM concentration and bioavailability in the overlying water in a short term (about 45 d), and increased DOM humification, but such effect diminished over time. DOM concentration increased substantially during aquatic plant litter decomposition, and reed litter released much more amounts of DOM than that of cattail litter, which dominated by protein-like substances and characterized by high bioavailability and low humification degree. Nutrient (available phosphorus (AP), NH4+-N and TN) contents in the sediment indirectly affected DOM properties by remarkably influencing microbial community compositions and enzyme activities. The strong correlations between the relative abundances of dominant genera Bacillus and Clostridium and concentrations of DOM components implied the important roles of these taxa in DOM transformations. Our findings highlighted the effects and potential mechanisms of dilution and aquatic plant litter decomposition on DOM properties in eutrophic water bodies, and the necessity of proper water diversion and plant litter harvest to reduce endogenous organic pollution in lakes.

Inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis reduces uptake and translocation of Pb/Cd in soil-wheat system: A life cycle study

Microbial inoculation is an important strategy to reduce the supply of heavy metals (HMs) in soil-crop systems. However, the mechanisms of microbial inoculation for the availability of HMs in soil and their accumulation/transfer in crops remain unclear. Here, the inhibitory effect of inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis on the migration and accumulation of Pb/Cd in the soil-wheat system during the whole growth period was investigated by pot experiments. The results showed that inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis increased soil pH and available nutrients (including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), and enhanced the activities of nutrient-acquiring enzymes. Dominance analysis showed that dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the key factor affecting the availability of HMs. The content of colored spectral clusters and humification characteristics of DOM were significantly improved by inoculation, which is conducive to reducing the availability of Pb/Cd, especially during the flowering stage, the decrease was 12.8 %. Inoculation decreased Pb/Cd accumulation in the shoot and the transfer from root to shoot, with the greatest decreases at the jointing and seedling stages (27.0–34.1 % and 6.9–11.8 %), respectively. At the maturity stage, inoculation reduced the Pb/Cd accumulation in grain (12.9–14.7 %) and human health risk (4.1–13.2 %). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the availability of Pb/Cd was positively correlated with the humification of DOM. Least square path model analysis showed that Bacillus thuringiensis could significantly reduce Pb/Cd accumulation in the grain and human health risks by regulating DOM spectral characteristics, the availability of HMs in soil and metals accumulation/transport in wheat at different growth stages. This study revealed the inhibition mechanism of Bacillus thuringiensis on migration of Pb/Cd in a soil-wheat system from a viewpoint of a full life cycle, which offers a valuable reference for the in-situ remediation of HM-contaminated soil and the safe production of food crops in field.

Molecular-level insight into the origin-dependent adsorption fractionation of dissolved organic matter on ferrihydrite in aquatic environment: Implications for carbon sink in eutrophic lakes

Molecular fractionation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) induced by adsorption on minerals plays a significant role in carbon biogeochemical cycling in water environment. However, the molecular-level adsorption of algae-derived DOM (ADOM) on minerals in eutrophic lakes remains poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the ferrihydrite-induced adsorptive fractionation of ADOM and humic DOM for comparison by using spectral analysis, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and solid characterization methods. We observed higher adsorption rate but lower adsorption capacity for ADOM than humic DOM. Spectroscopy and FT-ICR-MS indicated compounds with large molecular weight (>350 Da), high unsaturated and oxygen-rich were preferentially adsorbed for both ADOM and humic DOM. Specifically, the adsorption affinity order was aromatics > lignin-like > aliphatic compounds. Furthermore, tannin-like and condensed aromatics were predominantly adsorbed in humic DOM and protein-like formulas in ADOM. The solid characterization of ferrihydrite before and after adsorption further confirmed the dominant adsorption of aromatic and carboxylic-containing species in humic DOM and aliphatic materials in ADOM. Additionally, the contribution variation of oxygen atom to double bond in the molecular formula before and after adsorption identified absorbed oxygen-containing substances were predominantly aromatic carboxylic acids for humic DOM, but few aliphatic hydrocarbons substituted with ethers and alcohols for ADOM. These findings provided new insights into mineral-induced carbon sequestration, that is, increased release of ADOM in eutrophic lakes might influence the amount of organic carbon settled by ferrihydrite, and alter its quality from aromatic to aliphatic compounds transfer from water column to sediment through ferrihydrite adsorption.

Co-occurring characteristics and mechanisms of geogenic ammonium and phosphorus in Quaternary alluvial-lacustrine aquifer systems

High loads of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in groundwater are a pressing global environmental concern. Geogenic ammonium (NH4+) and P anomalies in groundwater as unique forms of contamination, have been extensively reported. However, despite significant efforts on the enrichment of geogenic NH4+ or P, little is known about their co-occurring characteristics and mechanisms in groundwater. Therefore, focusing on the Dongting Plain (DTP) within the central Yangtze River basin, a typical alluvial-lacustrine plain, this study analyzed hydrogeochemistry, stable carbon isotopes, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) fluorescence. The results revealed a clear correlation between the groundwater DOM humification degree and the redox processes. In different redox processes, four distinct groundwater types emerged sequentially: low-NH4+ & low-P, low-NH4+ & high-P, high-NH4+ & high-P, and high-NH4+ & low-P. In organic matter (OM) degradation process, when dissolved oxygen and nitrate acted as electron acceptors, the low-NH4+ & low-P groundwater dominated. The low-NH4+ & high-P groundwater dominated when Mn(IV) and amorphous Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides served as the electron acceptors, where P enrichment was primarily attributed to the reductive dissolution of amorphous Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides. The high-NH4+ & high-P groundwater dominated when SO42-, crystalline Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides, and CO2 served as the electron acceptors. During this phase, OM mineralization resulted in the enrichment of both NH4+ and P. Furthermore, the reductive dissolution of crystalline Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides further increased P concentrations in groundwater. During the strong degradation of OM to the methanogenic stage, two processes occurred simultaneously: anaerobic oxidation of methane and reductive dissolution of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides. These processes led to an increase in the concentration of HCO3– and Fe(II) in groundwater. During this phase, large amounts of HCO3– and Fe(II) combine to form siderite precipitates. These precipitates adsorb P from the groundwater, eventually leading to a decrease in P concentration and the formation of high-NH4+ & low-P groundwater. This study offers novel insights into the simultaneous cycling of N and P in Quaternary alluvial-lacustrine aquifer systems.

Impacts of mixed ferrous sulfate-biochar additives on humification and bacterial community during electric field-assisted aerobic composting

This study assessed the impact of nine mixed ferrous sulfates and biochars on electric field-assisted aerobic composting (EAC), focusing on the spectroscopy of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microbial communities. Adding 1.05% ferrous sulfate and 5.25% biochar to EAC increased the specific ultraviolet absorbances at 254 and 280 nm by 142.3% and 133.9% on day 35, respectively. This ratio accelerated the early response of carboxyl groups (—COOH) and lignin (CꘌC), enhancing the relative abundance of Thermobifida (4.0%) and Thermopolyspora (4.3%). The condition contributed to humus precursor formation on day 5, increasing the maximum fluorescence intensity of the humus-like component by 74.2% compared to the control on day 35. This study is the first to develop a combined and efficient organic and inorganic additive by multiple-variable experimentation for DOM humification. Consequently, it optimizes EAC for solid waste recycling.

Quantity and quality characteristics of DOM loss in sloping cropland under natural rainfall in Southwestern China

Rainfall events lead to dissolved organic matter (DOM) loss in sloping cropland, resulting in a high risk of soil carbon emissions and water pollution. However, limited studies have concentrated on the quality of DOM during different loss pathways in sloping cropland. In this study, the characteristics of DOM loss were explored during different loss pathways (surface runoff, interflow (0–20 cm), interflow (20–40 cm), and sediment) under different slope gradients (10° and 15°), based on natural rainfall. The results showed that surface runoff was the primary carrier of DOM in the sloping cropland, occupying 33 %-43 % of the total loss flux. The slope gradient significantly increased the DOM loss flux of surface runoff and sediment (p < 0.05). Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) analyses indicated that four fluorescent components of DOM were detected in both the runoff and sediment. The humic-like components (C1 and C2) accounted for higher than 70 % of the DOM in surface runoff. The protein-like components (C3 and C4) tended to dominate the DOM in the sediment and accounted for 63.02 %-66.93 %. An increased slope gradient exacerbated hydrophobic carbon loss in runoff. The hydrophobicity and aromaticity of DOM in sediment were higher than those in surface runoff. The molecular weight and bioavailability of DOM in sediment were lower than those in surface runoff. The range of humification index (HIX) was 0.63–0.70, indicating a low degree of DOM humification in sloping cropland. Our study clarified the differences between DOM quantity and quality during different loss pathways, which can provide a theoretical foundation for the effective prevention and control of DOM loss and the sustainable agricultural development of sloping cropland.

Identification of methane cycling pathways in Quaternary alluvial-lacustrine aquifers using multiple isotope and microbial indicators

Groundwater rich in dissolved methane is often overlooked in the global or regional carbon cycle. Considering the knowledge gap in understanding the biogeochemical behavior of methane in shallow aquifers, particularly those in humid alluvial-lacustrine plains with high organic carbon content, we investigated methane sources and cycling pathways in groundwater systems at the central Yangtze River basins. Composition of multiple stable isotopes (2H/18O in water, 13C in dissolved inorganic carbon, 13C/2H in methane, and 13C in carbon dioxide) was combined with the characteristics of microbes and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the study. The results revealed significant concentrations of biogenic methane reaching up to 13.05 mg/L in anaerobic groundwater environments with abundant organic matter. Different pathways for methane cycling (methanogenic CO2-reduction and acetate-fermentation, and methane oxidation) were identified. CO2-reduction dominated acetate-fermentation in the two methanogenic pathways primarily associated with humic DOM, while methane oxidation was more closely associated with microbially derived DOM. The abundance of obligate CO2-reduction microorganisms (Methanobacterium and Methanoregula) was higher in samples with substantial CO2-reduction, as indicated by isotopic composition. The obligate acetate-fermentation microorganism (Methanosaeta) was more abundant in samples exhibiting evident acetate-fermentation. Additionally, a high abundance of Candidatus Methanoperedens was identified in samples with apparent methane oxidation. Comparing our findings with those in other areas, we found that various factors, such as groundwater temperature, DOM abundance and types, and hydrogeological conditions, may lead to differences in groundwater methane cycling. This study offered a new perspective and understanding of methane cycling in worldwide shallow alluvial-lacustrine aquifer systems without geothermal disturbance.

Insight into bacterial role attribution in dissolved organic matter humification during rice straw composting with microbial inoculation

This study aims to investigate the effect of microbial role distribution in microbial carbon pumps on dissolved organic matter (DOM) humification during rice straw composting with microbial inoculation. Three composting groups were designed, named CK (control), B4 (with Bacillus subtilis, OR058594) and Z1 (with Aspergillus fumigatus, AF202956.1). As a result of inoculation, the composition of microbial communities was changed, so that the microorganisms that promoted DOM humification were concentrated in the responders in the microbial carbon pump. DOM was divided into three components in three composting treatments: C1, C2 and C3. After inoculation with Bacillus subtilis, the C2 component was significantly affected, while after inoculation with Aspergillus fumigatus, the C3 component was significantly affected. The results of physicochemical factors affecting the transformation of DOM fluorescence components indicated that C1, C2 and C3 were related to the abundance of the cellulose-degrading enzyme-encoding gene GH7 in CK and B4 composting. However, the C2 was susceptible to organic matter in Z1 composting. This study explored the distribution of microbial communities from a new perspective, which provided new information for analyzing DOM humification and treating agricultural straws to achieve clean conditions for environmental friendliness.

Humification levels of dissolved organic matter in the eastern plain lakes of China based on long-term satellite observations

Under the influence of intensive human activities and global climate change, the sources and compositions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the eastern plain lake (EPL) region in China have fluctuated sharply. It has been successfully proven that the humification index (HIX), which can be derived from three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, can be an effective proxy for the sources and compositions of DOM. Therefore, combined with remote sensing technology, the sources and compositions of DOM can be tracked on a large scale by associating the HIX with optically active components. Here, we proposed a novel HIX remote sensing retrieval (IRHIX) model suitable for Landsat series sensors based on the comprehensive analysis of the covariation mechanism between HIX and optically active components in different water types. The validation results showed that the model runs well on the independent validation dataset and the satellite-ground synchronous sampling dataset, with an uncertainty ranging from 30.85 % to 36.92 % (average ± standard deviation = 33.6 % ± 3.07 %). The image-derived HIX revealed substantial spatiotemporal variations in the sources and compositions of DOM in 474 lakes in the EPL during 1986–2021. Subsequently, we obtained three long-term change modes of the HIX trend, namely, significant decline, gentle change, and significant rise, accounting for 74.68 %, 17.09 %, and 8.23 % of the lake number, respectively. The driving factor analysis showed that human activities had the most extensive influence on the DOM humification level. In addition, we also found that the HIX increased slightly with increasing lake area (R2 = 0.07, P < 0.05) or significantly with decreasing trophic state (R2 = 0.83, P < 0.05). Our results provide a new exploration for the effective acquisition of long-term dynamic information about the sources and compositions of DOM in inland lakes and provide important support for lake water quality management and restoration.

Life after a fiery death: Fire and plant biomass loading affect dissolved organic matter in experimental ponds.

Drier and hotter conditions linked with anthropogenic climate change can increase wildfire frequency and severity, influencing terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycles at broad spatial and temporal scales. The impacts of wildfire are complex and dependent on several factors that may increase terrestrial deposition and the influx of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from plants into nearby aquatic systems, resulting in the darkening of water color. We tested the effects of plant biomass quantity and its interaction with fire (burned vs. unburned plant biomass) on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and degradation (biological vs. photochemical) and DOM composition in 400 L freshwater ponds using a gradient experimental design. DOC concentration increased nonlinearly with plant biomass loading in both treatments, with overall higher concentrations (>56 mg/L) in the unburned treatment shortly after plant addition. We also observed nonlinear trends in fluorescence and UV-visibleabsorbance spectroscopic indices as a function of fire treatment and plant biomass, such as greater humification and specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (a proxy for aromatic DOM) over time. DOM humification occurred gradually over time with less humification in the burned treatment compared to the unburned treatment. Both burned and unburned biomass released noncolored, low molecular weight carbon compounds that were rapidly consumed by microbes. DOC decomposition exhibited a unimodal relationship with plant biomass, with microbes contributing more to DOC loss than photodegradation at intermediate biomass levels (100-300 g). Our findings demonstrate that the quantity of plant biomass leads to nonlinear responses in the dynamics and composition of DOM in experimental ponds that are altered by fire, indicating how disturbances interactively affect DOM processing and its role in aquatic environments.

Molecular-level insights into the transformation and degradation pathways of dissolved organic matter during full-scale swine wastewater treatment

The rapid development of swine farming has resulted in the generation of a large amount of swine wastewater (SW), and dissolved organic matter (DOM) has a crucial role in determining the efficiency and safety of SW treatment. In this study, the transformation and influential mechanisms of DOM on the quality of SW effluent during full-scale SW treatment in actual engineering were systematically investigated using multispectral analysis and the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) technique. The results showed that S-containing, reduced, saturated, and less aromatic molecules were preferentially removed in the C-AF, while C-S preferentially removed reduced, unsaturated, and aromatic molecules, as well as molecules with large molecular weights. And in the two-stage A/O, the degradation of organic matter and DOM transformation occurred mainly in the A/O-1, with the A/O-2 acting as a supplement to further enhance the humification of DOM. Furthermore, the AOP preferentially removed lignin-like and highly unsaturated compounds, replacing them with a new generation of substances such as proteins and tannins with low aromaticity and unsaturation. More deeply, oxygen addition reactions dominate in both A/O and AOP. Specifically, the most common types of reactions in the A/O were the corresponding potential precursor-product pairs based on methyl to carboxylic acid (-H2 + O2) and alcohol to carboxylic acid (-H2 + O), while tri-hydroxylation (+O3) and di-hydroxylation (+H2O2) reactions were predominant in the AOP. Finally, the study's findings might suggest improving the actual engineering by prioritizing the AOP before the A/O-2 and using the C-S for safeguard treatment of the A/O-2 effluent. It is reliable that this kind of adjustment guarantees safe drainage indications and raises each process unit's efficiency in purifying.

Comprehending the practical implementation of permanganate and ferrate for water remediation in complex water matrices

Most previous studies examined permanganate or ferrate oxidation using various emerging pollutants (EPs) spiked in ultrapure water with concentrations of orders-of-magnitude higher than those in natural waters. In present study, we assessed the efficiency of permanganate and ferrate (with ozone as a comparison) at mg L−1 level to remove selected EPs at μg L−1 level in complex water matrices. The efficiency of permanganate and ferrate is more easily affected by the humic acid in synthetic water or dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural river water compared to ozone. Experiment results revealed that humic acid or DOM were not mineralized by oxidants, but changed in compositional nature, including decreases in the aromaticity, electron-donating capacity, and average molecular weight. At molecular level, condensed aromatic, lignin-like, and tannin-like components in humic acid and DOM are the critical sites being attacked by permanganate or ferrate, the alkene groups and aromatic structures were oxidized predominantly to carboxylic acids. Overall, the present study provided insights into the performance of permanganate and ferrate used for EPs treatment under realistic conditions, as well as alternations of DOM that can be expected following exposure to these oxidants.

Insight into the pathways of biochar/smectite-induced humification during chicken manure composting

As representative organic and inorganic additives, both biochar and smectite exhibit an excellent capacity to improve humification efficiency during composting. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying biochar/smectite-induced compost humification have still not been fully explored from the perspective of overall organic substances. In this study, three composting treatments were performed as follows: 10 % biochar-amended composting, 10 % smectite-amended composting and natural composting without any additive. UV–visible parameters and synchronous hetero two-dimensional correlation spectra showed that biochar accelerated dissolved organic matter (DOM) complications, unsaturation and aromatization. For example, biochar promoted the C2 and simple C3 peaks to convert into a sophisticated C3/360 peak. However, the effect of smectite was negligible in complicating the DOM structure. Both biochar and smectite displayed an invigorating role in promoting humic substance (HS) formation. The strengthened relations between bacterial richness and physicochemical indicators and HS fractions might contribute to the positive action of biochar/smectite on HS synthesis. Network analysis showed that both bacterial functional omnipotence and specialization in response to the addition of catalysts may contribute to compost humification. The chemical pathway involved in DOM humification was intensified by enhancing the role of pH in biochar composting and weakening the degradation of unsaturated aromatic compounds of DOM with smectite addition. These findings benefit the practical application of biochar/smectite in promoting composting efficiency.

Characteristics of optical properties of DOM and nutrients in rainwater of different ecological areas of a large reservoir in China

Numerous studies have focused on the spectral characteristics and seasonal variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rainwater. However, the relationship between the optical indices of DOM and nutrients in rainwater from different ecological areas of large reservoirs is poorly understood. A one-year monitoring study was conducted between March 2019 and February 2020 in the Danjiangkou Reservoir in Henan Province, China, to compare the composition, spectral characteristic parameters, and relationship between the optical indices of DOM and nutrients in rainwater under different ecological environments. The study showed that the average value of a300 in all samples was 5.29 ± 2.16 m-1 and showed a seasonal trend of higher in spring and winter and lower in summer and autumn as well as a regional difference of agricultural area > urban area > reservoir area. A three-dimensional fluorescence with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) revealed four components of the rainwater: C1 and C2 as UV humic-like substances, and C3 and C4 as protein-like substances. The protein-like components of rainwater from agricultural areas had a high fluorescence intensity, whereas the UV humic-like components of rainfall from urban and reservoir areas had a high fluorescence intensity. Analysis of the fluorescence indices showed that rainwater DOM humification was low and had a strong endogenous character in the Danjiangkou Reservoir. The redundancy analysis revealed that NO3−-N, DTN, and SO42− mainly influenced the DOM optical indices of rainwater in urban areas, EC, DTN, and DOC had the highest interpretation of the DOM optical indices of rainwater in agricultural areas, and SO42−, DOC, and DTN had the highest interpretation of the DOM optical indices of rainwater in the reservoir. Overall, understanding the characteristics of rainfall DOM fluorescence and the relationships with nutrients in different ecological regions provides important information for comprehending biogeochemical processes in reservoirs.

Distinguishing between Sources of Natural Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) Based on Its Characteristics

Increasing levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in watercourses in the northern hemisphere are mainly due to reduced acid rain, climate change, and changes in agricultural practices. However, their impacts vary in time and space. To predict how DOM responds to changes in environmental pressures, we need to differentiate between allochthonous and autochthonous sources as well as identify anthropogenic DOM. In this study we distinguish between allochthonous, autochthonous, and anthropogenic sources of DOM in a diverse watercourse network by assessing effects of land cover on water quality and using DOM characterization tools. The main sources of DOM at the studied site are forests discharging allochthonous humic DOM, autochthonous fulvic DOM, and runoff from urban sites and fish farms with high levels of anthropogenic DOM rich in protein-like material. Specific UV absorbency (sUVa) distinguishes allochthonous DOM from autochthonous and anthropogenic DOM. Anthropogenic DOM differs from autochthonous fulvic DOM by containing elevated levels of protein-like material. DOM from fishponds is distinguished from autochthonous and sewage DOM by having high sUVa. DOM characteristics are thus valuable tools for deconvoluting the various sources of DOM, enabling water resource managers to identify anthropogenic sources of DOM and predict future trends in DOM.

Distributions of humic substances in an estuarine region (Otsuchi Bay, Japan) determined using electrochemical and optical methods

Humic substances are major components of the dissolved organic carbon pool in aquatic environments that can bind to trace metals like copper and iron as organic ligands. The unique chromophoric and fluorescence properties of humic substances enabled measurements using conventional optical methods but recently a new electrochemical method using cathodic stripping voltammetry has emerged. In this study, we employed both methods to measure humic substances and elucidate their distribution patterns in Otsuchi Bay in Japan. The electroactive humic substances (eHS) detected using the electrochemical method were higher in the rivers (range 0.24 to 4.3 mg L−1) than in the coastal bay (range 0.08 to 0.69 mg L−1). Both methods revealed significantly higher humic concentrations in the surrounding rivers than in Otsuchi Bay, indicating that riverine sources are an important source of humic substances to Otsuchi Bay, consistent with previous observations in riverine systems globally. eHS correlated well with optical indices of dissolved organic matter (DOM) including humic and marine humic-like fluorescent DOM and chromophoric DOM. Furthermore, comparison with data from the literature suggests that about 20% of the weaker Cu-binding organic ligand pool in Otsuchi Bay may consist of eHS. As Cu-binding organic ligands, eHS may be important in buffering temporal or seasonal increases in Cu fluxes in estuarine regions, with possible implications for nutrient bioavailability and toxicity for primary producers.

Coupling effect of DOM and microbe on arsenic speciation and bioavailability in tailings soil after the addition of different biologically stabilized sludges

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microbes co-mediate the transformation of heavy metals in soil. However, few previous studies have investigated the effects of interaction between DOM and microbes on the transformation and bioavailability of heavy metals in tailings soil at the molecular level after the addition of organic wastes. This study used co-occurrence network analysis based on Fourier-transform ion cyclone resonance mass spectrometry and high-throughput sequencing to investigate the molecular mechanisms of different bio-stabilized sludge addition on arsenic fraction transformation and bioavailability in tailings soil. It was found that sludge amendments decreased the arsenic bioavailable fraction from 3.62% to 1.74% and 1.68% and promoted humification of DOM in soil. The extra inorganic salt ions introduced with sludge desorb the adsorbed As(V) into soil solution. Specifically, bio-stabilized sludge increased the contents of labile compounds that provided nutrients for microbial metabolism and shaped the microbial community composition into a more copiotrophic state, which increased the abundance of As(V)-reducing bacteria and then converted the As(V) into As(III) and precipitated as As2S3. This work innovatively explores the transformation mechanisms of As fractions through the perspectives of microbial community and DOM molecular characterization, providing an important basis for the remediation of As-contaminated soil using biosolids.