Application of Fluorescence Technique for Rapid Identification of DOM Fractions in Source Waters

Dissolved organic carbon has been typically used as a measure of organic content in source waters. However, dissolved organic carbon is an aggregate parameter and does not provide information on the organic character of natural organic matter in water. The spectral fluorescent signatures technique coupled with a multiple linear regression model was applied for the rapid identification of six dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions (hydrophobic acid, hydrophobic neutral, hydrophobic base, hydrophilic acid, hydrophilic neutral, and hydrophilic base) along a major river in a New Jersey watershed. The technique/model enabled rapid spatial and temporal determination for the rapid qualitative and quantitative measurement of the DOM fraction(s) in the river. The analysis of DOM fractions also enables screening of the watershed for variations in humic and nonhumic substances input/output along the reaches.