scholarly journals Long-term watershed management is an effective strategy to reduce organic matter export and disinfection by-product precursors in source water

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Majidzadeh ◽  
Huan Chen ◽  
T. Adam Coates ◽  
Kuo-Pei Tsai ◽  
Christopher I. Olivares ◽  
...  

Watershed management practices such as prescribed fire, harvesting and understory mastication can alter the chemical composition and thickness of forest detritus, thus affecting the quantity and quality of riverine dissolved organic matter (DOM). Long-term effects of watershed management on DOM composition were examined through parallel field and extraction-based laboratory studies. The laboratory study was conducted using detritus samples collected from a pair of managed and unmanaged watersheds in South Carolina, USA. Results showed that dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations were higher in water extracts from the unmanaged watershed than from the managed watershed (P<0.01). Pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that water extracts from the unmanaged watershed contained more aromatic compounds than extracts from the managed watershed. For the field study, monthly water samples were collected for 1 year (2015) from the paired watersheds. DOC and TDN concentrations, as well as DOM aromaticity, were significantly higher in the unmanaged watershed than in the managed watershed for most of the year (P<0.05) and were linked to detrital thickness, precipitation and flow patterns. The formation potential of two regulated disinfection by-products was lower in the unmanaged watershed for most of 2015 (P<0.05). From this study, it appears that long-term watershed management practices may alter detrital mass and chemistry in ways that improve water quality.

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Majidzadeh ◽  
Huan Chen ◽  
T. Adam Coates ◽  
Kuo-Pei Tsai ◽  
Christopher I. Olivares ◽  
...  

Watershed management practices such as prescribed fire, harvesting and understory mastication can alter the chemical composition and thickness of forest detritus, thus affecting the quantity and quality of riverine dissolved organic matter (DOM). Long-term effects of watershed management on DOM composition were examined through parallel field and extraction-based laboratory studies. The laboratory study was conducted using detritus samples collected from a pair of managed and unmanaged watersheds in South Carolina, USA. Results showed that dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations were higher in water extracts from the unmanaged watershed than from the managed watershed (PPP


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Leeuwen ◽  
C. Chow ◽  
R. Fabris ◽  
N. Withers ◽  
D. Page ◽  
...  

To gain an improved understanding of the types of organic compounds that are recalcitrant to water treatment, natural organic matter (NOM) isolates from two drinking water sources (Mt. Zero and Moorabool reservoirs, Victoria, Australia) were separated into fractions of distinct chemical behaviour using resins. Four fractions were obtained from each water source and were organics absorbed to: (1) XAD-8 (very hydrophobic acids, VHA); (2) DAX-4 (slightly hydrophobic acids, SHA); (3) bound to an anion exchange resin (charged organics, CHAR); and (4) not absorbed or bound to resins (neutrals, NEUT). These fractions were then tested to determine the capacity of alum to remove them from water and to correlate this with the character of each isolate. The fractions were characterised by the application of high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), bacterial regrowth potential (BRP), trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), pyrolysis gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and thermochemolysis. The highest removals of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by alum treatment were in waters spiked with the CHAR fractions while the NEUT fractions were the most recalcitrant. The number average molecular weights (Mn) of DOC of the CHAR fractions before treatment were the highest, whilst those of the NEUT fractions were the lowest. After alum treatment, the Mn of the NEUT fractions were only slightly reduced. Results from Py-GC-MS and thermochemolysis indicate that the NEUT fractions had the highest relative proportion of saccharide derived organic material. Nonetheless, the BRP of waters spiked with the NEUT fractions differed markedly, indicating that organics recalcitrant to alum treatment can vary substantially in their chemical composition and capacity to support microbial growth.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 914
Author(s):  
Jing Geng ◽  
Shulan Cheng ◽  
Huajun Fang ◽  
Jie Pei ◽  
Meng Xu ◽  
...  

Key Findings: Combining physical fractionation and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) technique can help better understand the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM). Background and Objectives: SOM plays a critical role in the global carbon (C) cycle. However, its complexity remains a challenge in characterizing chemical molecular composition within SOM and under nitrogen (N) deposition. Materials and Methods: Three particulate organic matter (POM) fractions within SOM and under N treatments were studied from perspectives of distributions, C contents and chemical signatures in a subtropical forest. N addition experiment was conducted with two inorganic N forms (NH4Cl and NaNO3) applied at three rates of 0, 40, 120 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Three particle-size fractions (>250 μm, 53–250 μm and <53 μm) were separated by a wet-sieving method. Py-GC/MS technique was used to differentiate between chemical composition. Results: A progressive proportion transfer of mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) to fine POM under N treatment was found. Only C content in fine POM was sensitive to N addition. Principal component analyses (PCA) showed that the coarse POM had the largest plant-derived markers (lignins, phenols, long-chain n-alkanes, and n-alkenes). Short-chain n-alkanes and n-alkenes, benzofurans, aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mainly from black carbon prevailed in the fine POM. N compounds and polysaccharides from microbial products dominated in the MAOM. Factor analysis revealed that the degradation extent of three fractions was largely distinct. The difference in chemical structure among three particulate fractions within SOM was larger than treatments between control and N addition. In terms of N treatment impact, the MAOM fraction had fewer benzofurans compounds and was enriched in polysaccharides, indicating comparatively weaker mineralization and stronger stabilization of these substances. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of chemical structure in SOM pools and help to understand the influence of N deposition on SOM transformation.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 985-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Megens ◽  
Johannes Van Der Plicht ◽  
Jan W. De Leeuw

Organic matter in sediments and suspended matter is a complex mixture of constituents with different histories, sources and stabilities. To study these components in a suspended matter sample from the Ems-Dollard Estuary, we used combined molecular analysis with pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and stable and radioactive carbon isotope analyses of the bulk and separated chemical fractions. Carbohydrates and proteins, ca. 50% of the total organic carbon (TOC), are much younger than the bulk sample and have a somewhat higher δ13C value. Lipids and the final residue are considerably older and have lower δ13C values. The final residue, ca. 17% of the total carbon, consists mainly of aliphatic macromolecules that could be derived from algae or terrestrial plants. The δ13C value points to a marine origin.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document