CHARACTERIZATION OF AQUATIC ORGANIC MATTER IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

The organic matter (OM) contained in a natural aquatic environment, located in a tropical region in Notheastern Brazil, was characterized using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorbance. The synchronous fluorescence spectra did not show qualitative differences for samples collected during dry and rainy seasons. They also revealed two peaks, one at 390 nm and other at 460 nm, associated with humic substances. The lack of peaks with significant fluorescence intensity at 270 - 300 nm and at 320 - 370 nm confirms it is an environment with natural OM. The A254/A436 ratios obtained during the dry and rainy seasons (13.55 to 14.97) indicate the presence of allochthonous OM of terrestrial origin, with high level of aromatic carbon associated with humic substances. The OM photodegradation by natural sunlight was more pronounced in the first five days, with a decrease of FImax from 23.6 to 55.4%. Also, titration with Cu(II) ions was used to determine the complexation ability of the two fluorescent sites, obtaining log K values of 4.26 and 4.27.

Keywords

• natural organic matter
• fluorescence
• humic substances