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Fluorescence spectroscopic studies of the effect of granular activated carbon adsorption on structural properties of dissolved organic matter fractions

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Abstract

This work investigated the effect of granular activated carbon adsorption (GACA) on fluorescence characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in secondary effluent, by means of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra, the fluorescence regional integration (FRI) method, synchronous spectra, the fluorescence index defined as the ratio of fluorescence emission intensity at wavelength 450 nm to that at 500 nm at excitation (λ ex)= 370 nm, and the wavelength that corresponds to the position of the normalized emission band at its half intensity (λ 0.5). DOM in the secondary effluent from the North Wastewater Treatment Plant (Shenyang, China) was fractionated using XAD resins into 5 fractions: hydrophobic acid (HPO-A), hydrophobic neutral (HPO-N), transphilic acid (TPI-A), transphilic neutral (TPI-N) and hydrophilic fraction (HPI). Results showed that fluorescent materials in HPO-N and TPI-N were less readily removed than those in the other fractions by GACA. The relative content of fluorescent materials in HPO-A, TPI-A and HPI decreased whereas that in HPO-N and TPI-N increased as a consequence of GACA. Polycyclic aromatics in all DOM fractions were preferentially absorbed by GACA, in comparison with bulk DOM expressed as DOC. On the other hand, the adsorption of aromatic amino acids and humic acid-like fluorophores exhibiting fluorescence peaks in synchronous spectra by GACA seemed to be dependent on the acid/neutral properties of DOM fractions. All five fractions had decreased fluorescence indices as a result of GACA. GACA led to a decreased λ 0.5 value for HPO-A, increased λ 0.5 values for HPO-N, TPI-A and HPI, and a consistent λ 0.5 value for TPI-N.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, China

    Shuang Xue, Xiujuan Hui & Xiping Ma

  2. Key Laboratory of Water Environment Biomonitoring and Ecological Security Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110036, China

    Shuang Xue, Xiujuan Hui & Xiping Ma

  3. School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China

    Qingliang Zhao & Liangliang Wei

  4. Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Architectural and Civil Engineering Institute, Changchun, 130118, China

    Yingzi Lin

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  1. Shuang Xue
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  2. Qingliang Zhao
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  4. Xiujuan Hui
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Correspondence to Xiujuan Hui.

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Xue, S., Zhao, Q., Wei, L. et al. Fluorescence spectroscopic studies of the effect of granular activated carbon adsorption on structural properties of dissolved organic matter fractions. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 6, 784–796 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-012-0436-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-012-0436-5

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