Thomas Brinkmann

Photobleaching of humic rich dissolved organic matter

Abstract.Humic rich dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a bog lake in the Northern Black Forest was treated with simulated solar UV-light. The effects of irradiation time, initial pH values, and dissolved iron and copper on photobleaching were investigated. The DOC concentration and the UV/VIS absorption decreased with increasing amounts of absorbed light energy. The wavelengths of the maximum bleaching effect and of the maximum amount of absorbed energy were found to coincide. A decrease in the average hydrodynamic radii of the DOM was shown by size-exclusion chromatography. Furthermore, evidence was given that hydrophilic moieties of the DOM were preferentially photodegraded while hydrophobic ones remained relatively unaffected or were even formed. Iron was an important factor of DOM photobleaching in the bog lake. However, copper, another redox active metal ion, inhibited the bleaching processes.

Alkaline hydrolysis of humic substances: spectroscopic and chromatographic investigations

To find out more on the structure of humic substances (HS), isolated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) samples from a brown water lake and a wastewater effluent were fractionated and subjected to alkaline hydrolysis. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as size-exclusion chromatography with on-line detection of UV absorption, fluorescence and DOC concentration were used to investigate the structural changes caused by the hydrolysis reaction. Following hydrolysis, the fluorescence intensity increased considerably despite a decrease in the UV absorption. The UV absorption and the DOC data from the SEC experiments revealed a strong shift to smaller molecular sizes after hydrolysis. The spectra of the hydrolysed samples, as well as the size-exclusion chromatograms, were compared to spectra of hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. From this comparison, it can be concluded that the hydrolysis products have a structure similar to these organic acids.

Non-linear calibration functions in ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection using hydroxide eluents.

The linearity of calibration curves in ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection using hydroxide eluents was investigated. Theoretical calibration curves were derived for strong electrolytes and weak monobasic acids and the results compared with experimental data. At low concentrations up to 1 micromol l(-1) the autoprotolysis of water induces left-curved calibration functions even for strong electrolytes like nitrate. The experimental data are best described by a quadratic function, the differences between linear and quadratic regression being up to 10%. At higher concentrations the calibration curves for strong electrolytes are linear. Due to incomplete dissociation, the calibration curves for weak mono- and dibasic acids show a right curvature. Thus, depending on the analyte and the concentration range of interest, analysts should carefully choose between a linear and a quadratic regression function.