Fractionation and characterization of dissolved organic matter in a shallow eutrophic lake, its inflowing rivers, and other organic matter sources

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in water from eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura, its inflowing rivers, and several other DOM sources in the lake catchment area was fractionated using resin adsorbents into five classes: aquatic humic substances (AHS), hydrophobic neutrals (HoN), hydrophilic acids (HiA), bases (BaS), and hydrophilic neutrals (HiN). The DOM-fraction distribution pattern and the ultraviolet absorbance to dissolved organic carbon ratio (UV/DOC ratio) were found remarkably effective for evaluating the characteristics of DOM in water. DOM-fraction distribution patterns were significantly different depending on the origin of the sample. AHS and HiA were found to be the dominant fractions in DOM in all samples studied. HiA prevailed over AHS in the lake water, whereas AHS were slightly more abundant than HiA in the river waters. AHS were in the great majority in forest streams and plowed-field percolates. HiA abounded in paddy-field outflow, domestic sewage, and sewage-treatment-plant effluent. Only domestic sewage contained a significant amount of HoN. The UV/DOC ratio also varied depending on the origin of the sample: the ratios in total DOM, AHS, and HiA were greater in river waters than in the lake water. The greatest ratio of AHS was found in paddy-field outflow and the lowest in domestic sewage. The UV/DOC ratios in the sewage-treatment-plant effluent were very similar to those in the lake water.