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Characterizing the heavy metal-complexing potential of fluorescent water-extractable organic matter from composted municipal solid wastes using fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra coupled with parallel factor analysis

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Abstract

To investigate the effect of organic matter evolution on heavy metal sorption, fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectra combined with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis were employed to characterize the evolution and metal-complexing potential of fluorescent water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) from composted municipal solid wastes (MSWs). The WEOMs examined comprised humic-, fulvic-, tryptophan-, and tyrosine-like substances. Composting treatment increased the content of humic- and fulvic-like matter, and changed the existence pattern of tryptophan- and tyrosine-like substances (i.e., the tryptophan- and tyrosine-like substances from uncomposted MSWs were mainly bound in protein-like matter, whereas those from composted MSWs were primarily bound in humic- and fulvic-like substances). Furthermore, composting treatment increased the polar functional group, aromaticity, and humification degree of the WEOMs, but decreased the aliphatic and hydroxyl group. These evolutions decreased the Cu(II) affinities of fulvic- and humic-like substances and the Pb(II) affinities and complexing capacities of fulvic-like substances, but increased the Cu(II) complexing capacities of fulvic- and humic-like substances. These results reveal that mature composts from the MSWs can be used for the remediation of Cu- and Pb-contaminated soils in situ, whereas immature composts can enhance the metal transferability from soil to plant.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51078340), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (no. 2012M520349), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Research Institutes (2012GQ-14).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China

    Xiao-Song He, Bei-Dou Xi, Hong-Wei Pan, Xiang Li, Dan Li, Dong-Yu Cui, Wen-Bin Tang & Ying Yuan

  2. Innovation Base of Groundwater and Environmental System Engineering, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, 100012, Beijing, China

    Xiao-Song He, Bei-Dou Xi, Hong-Wei Pan, Xiang Li, Dan Li, Dong-Yu Cui, Wen-Bin Tang & Ying Yuan

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  1. Xiao-Song He
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  2. Bei-Dou Xi
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  4. Xiang Li
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  5. Dan Li
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Correspondence to Bei-Dou Xi.

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Responsible editor: Céline Guéguen

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He, XS., Xi, BD., Pan, HW. et al. Characterizing the heavy metal-complexing potential of fluorescent water-extractable organic matter from composted municipal solid wastes using fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra coupled with parallel factor analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 7973–7984 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2751-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2751-9

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