Water-source characterization and classification with fluorescence EEM spectroscopy: PARAFAC analysis

Abstract

Water-quality protection and environmental forensics require rapid water monitoring and source identification. In this paper, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra (EEMS) was used to characterize and classify water samples from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, lakes, and rivers. The study showed that the optimal number of components was four to represent the data set. The fluorescence fingerprints for water samples from different sources were sufficiently different, so qualitative water classification could be achieved. Specifically, Component 1 was the major fluorescing centre in river waters, with characteristics consistent with humic-like fluorophores; Component 2 was the dominant fluorophore in the treated wastewaters; Component 3 was the characteristic fluorophore in landfill leachates; and Components 1, 3, and 4 existed in lake waters at comparable weight, among which Component 4 may be considered as a protein-or amino acidlike fluorophore.

Parallel factor analysis of fluorescence EEM spectra to identify THM precursors in lake waters

“…In practice, PARAFAC has been successfully applied to characterize oil samples (Christensen et al 2005) and estuarial water samples (Hall et al 2005;Stedmon et al 2003;Stedmon and Markager 2005). In our previous study of water source identification, PARAFAC was applied for the characterization of four types of waters based on their fluorescence fingerprints (Hua et al 2007a).…”

Characterizing humic substances from estuarine soils and sediments by excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis

“…The combination of EEM and PARA-FAC has been widely applied in the study of aquatic ecosystems, taking advantage of the natural fluorescence of chromophoric DOM. For instance, it has been used to characterize DOM in natural waters (Stedmon et al 2003;Cory and Mcknight 2005;Holbrook et al 2006), water soluble DOM in soil (Ohno and Bro 2006;Ohno et al 2007;Fellman et al 2008), to determine specific binding capacities of fluorescent components with trace metals , to classify water sources and their origin (Hall and Kenny 2007;Hua et al 2007), and in studies of the DOM dynamics in oceanic as well as coastal environments (Stedmon and Markager 2005;Stedmon et al 2007;Wedborg et al 2007;Murphy et al 2008;.…”

Estudo da matéria orgânica e composição elementar de solos arenosos de regiões próximas a São Gabriel da Cachoeira no Amazonas

“…• Diluição da amostra (Yappert et al, 1989;Tucker et al, 1992;Kowalczuk et al, 2003;Baker et al, 2004;Hua et al, 2007);…”