Emerging investigator series: critical review of photophysical models for the optical and photochemical properties of dissolved organic matter

Hydrophilic Fraction of Dissolved Organic Matter Largely Facilitated Microplastics Photoaging: Insights from Redox Properties and Reactive Oxygen Species

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) exists widely in natural water, which inevitably influences microplastic (MP) photoaging. Nevertheless, the impacts of DOM fractions with diverse molecular structures on MP photoaging remain to be elucidated. This study explored the photoaging mechanisms of polylactic acid (PLA)-MPs and polystyrene (PS)-MPs in the presence of DOM and its subfractions (hydrophobic acid (HPOA), hydrophobic neutral (HPON), and hydrophilic (HPI)). Across DOM fractions, HPI exhibited the highest electron accepting capacity (23 μmol e- (mg C)-1) due to its abundant tannin-like species (36.8%) with carboxylic groups, which facilitated more reactive oxygen species generation (particularly hydroxyl radical), leading to the strongest photoaging rate of two MPs by HPI. However, the sequences of bond cleavage during photoaging of each MPs were not clearly shifted as revealed by two-dimensional infrared correlation spectra. Inconspicuous effects on the extent of PS- and PLA-MPs photoaging were observed for HPOA and HPON, respectively. This was mainly ascribed to the occurrence of inhibitory mechanisms (e.g., light-shielding and quenching effect) counteracting the reactive oxygen species-promoting effects. The findings identified the HPI fraction of DOM for promoting PS- and PLA-MPs photoaging rate and first constructed a link among DOM molecular structures, redox properties, and effects on MP photoaging.

Dissolved organic matter isolates obtained by solid phase extraction exhibit higher absorption and lower photo-reactivity: Effect of components

Notable differences in photo-physical and chemical properties were found between bulk water and solid phase extraction (SPE) isolates for dissolved organic matter (DOM). The moieties extracted using modified styrene divinylbenzene cartridges, which predominantly consist of conjugated aromatic molecules like humic acids, contribute mainly to light absorption but exhibit lower quantum yields of fluorescence and photo-produced reactive intermediates (PPRIs). Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) revealed lignin as the moieties displaying most significant variance in abundance. In Van Krevelen-Spearman plot, we observed molecules positively or negatively correlated with DOM's optical and photochemical properties (including SUVA254, steady-state concentrations of ·OH, 1O2 quantum yield, etc.) were confined to specific regions, which can be delineated using a threshold modified aromaticity index (AImod) of 0.3. Based on the relationships between optical properties and PPRI production, it is suggested that the energy gap between ground state and excited singlet state (△ES1→S0), governing the inner conversion rate, serves as a determinant for apparent quantum yield of PPRIs in DOM, with intra-molecular charge transfer (CT) interactions potentially playing a pivotal role. Regarding DOM's photoreactivity with pollutants, this study has revealed, for the first time, that protein/amino sugars/amino acids could act as antioxidant groups in addition to phenols on the photolysis of sulfadiazine. These findings provide valuable insights into DOM photochemistry and are expected to stimulate further research in this area.

Inferring the Molecular Basis for Dissolved Organic Matter Photochemical and Optical Properties

Despite the widespread use of photochemical and optical properties to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM), a significant gap persists in our understanding of the relationship among these properties. This study infers the molecular basis for the optical and photochemical properties of DOM using a comprehensive framework and known structural moieties within DOM. Utilizing Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA) as a model DOM, carboxylated aromatics, phenols, and quinones were identified as dominant contributors to the absorbance spectra, and phenols, quinones, aldehydes, and ketones were identified as major contributors to radiative energy pathways. It was estimated that chromophores constitute ∼63% w/w of dissolved organic carbon in SRFA and ∼47% w/w of overall SRFA. Notably, estimations indicate the pool of fluorescent compounds and photosensitizing compounds in SRFA are likely distinct from each other at wavelengths below 400 nm. This perspective offers a practical tool to aid in the identification of probable chemical groups when interpreting optical and photochemical data and challenges the current "black box" thinking. Instead, DOM photochemical and optical properties can be closely estimated by assuming the DOM is composed of a mixture of individual compounds.

Meta-Analysis of Optical Surrogates for the Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter

Optical surrogates, derived from absorbance and fluorescence spectra, are widely used to infer dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition (molecular weight, aromaticity) and genesis (autochthonous vs allochthonous). Despite the broad adoption of optical surrogates, several limitations exist, such as context- and sample-specific factors. These limitations create uncertainty about how compositional interpretations based on optical surrogates are generalized across contexts, specifically if there is duplicative or contradictory information in those interpretations. To explore these limitations, we performed a meta-analysis of optical surrogates for DOM from diverse sources, both from natural systems and after water treatment processes (n = 762). Prior to analysis, data were screened using a newly developed, standardized methodology that applies systematic quality control criteria before reporting surrogates. There was substantial overlap in surrogate values from natural and treated samples, suggesting that the gradients governing the surrogate variability can be generated in both contexts. This overlap provides justification for using optical surrogates originally developed in the context of natural systems to describe DOM changes in engineered systems, although the interpretations may change. Absorbance-based surrogates that describe the amount of spectral tailing (e.g., E2:E3 and S275-295) had a high frequency of strong correlations with one another but not to specific absorbance (SUVA254) or absorbance slope ratio (SR). The fluorescence index (FI) and biological index (β/α) were strongly correlated with one another and to the peak emission wavelength but not to the humification index (HIX). Although SUVA254 and FI have both been correlated to DOM aromaticity in prior research, there was a lack of reciprocity between these optical surrogates across this data set. Additionally, there were patterns of deviations in the wastewater subset, suggesting that effluent organic matter may not follow conventional interpretations, urging caution in the use of optical surrogates to track DOM in water reuse applications. Finally, the meta-analysis highlights that three aspects should be captured when optical spectra are used for DOM interpretation: specific absorbance, absorbance tailing, and the extent of red-shifted fluorescence. We recommend that SUVA254, E2:E3, and FI or β/α be prioritized in future DOM studies to capture these aspects, respectively.

The apparent quantum yield matrix (AQY-M) of CDOM photobleaching in estuarine, coastal, and oceanic surface waters

The photochemical degradation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) upon solar exposure, known as photobleaching, can significantly alter the optical properties of the surface ocean. By leading to the breakdown of UV- and visible-radiation-absorbing moieties within dissolved organic matter, photobleaching regulates solar heating, the vertical distribution of photochemical processes, and UV exposure and light availability to the biota in surface waters. Despite its biogeochemical and ecological relevance, this sink of CDOM remains poorly quantified. Efforts to quantify photobleaching globally have long been hampered by the inherent challenge of determining representative apparent quantum yields (AQYs) for this process, and by the resulting lack of understanding of their variability in natural waters. Measuring photobleaching AQY is made challenging by the need to determine AQY matrices (AQY-M) that capture the dual spectral dependency of this process (i.e., magnitude varies with both excitation wavelength and response wavelength). A new experimental approach now greatly facilitates the quantification of AQY-M for natural waters, and can help address this problem. Here, we conducted controlled photochemical experiments and applied this new approach to determine the AQY-M of 27 contrasting water samples collected globally along the land-ocean aquatic continuum (i.e., rivers, estuaries, coastal ocean, and open ocean). The experiments and analyses revealed considerable variability in the magnitude and spectral characteristics of the AQY-M among samples, with strong dependencies on CDOM composition/origin (as indicated by the CDOM 275-295-nm spectral slope coefficient, S275-295), solar exposure duration, and water temperature. The experimental data facilitated the development and validation of a statistical model capable of accurately predicting the AQY-M from three simple predictor variables: 1) S275-295, 2) water temperature, and 3) a standardized measure of solar exposure. The model will help constrain the variability of the AQY-M when modeling photobleaching rates on regional and global scales.

Deciphering DOM-metal binding using EEM-PARAFAC: Mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a pivotal component of the biogeochemical cycles and can combine with metal ions through chelation or complexation. Understanding this process is crucial for tracing metal solubility, mobility, and bioavailability. Fluorescence excitation emission matrix (EEM) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) has emerged as a popular tool in deciphering DOM-metal interactions. In this review, we primarily discuss the advantages of EEM-PARAFAC compared with other algorithms and its main limitations in studying DOM-metal binding, including restrictions in spectral considerations, mathematical assumptions, and experimental procedures, as well as how to overcome these constraints and shortcomings. We summarize the principles of EEM to uncover DOM-metal association, including why fluorescence gets quenched and some potential mechanisms that affect the accuracy of fluorescence quenching. Lastly, we review some significant and innovative research, including the application of 2D-COS in DOM-metal binding analysis, hoping to provide a fresh perspective for possible future hotspots of study. We argue the expansion of EEM applications to a broader range of areas related to natural organic matter. This extension would facilitate our exploration of the mobility and fate of metals in the environment.

Prediction of Photochemical Properties of Dissolved Organic Matter Using Machine Learning

Apparent quantum yields (Φ) of photochemically produced reactive intermediates (PPRIs) formed by dissolved organic matter (DOM) are vital to element cycles and contaminant fates in surface water. Simultaneous determination of ΦPPRI values from numerous water samples through existing experimental methods is time consuming and ineffective. Herein, machine learning models were developed with a systematic data set including 1329 data points to predict the values of three ΦPPRIs (Φ3DOM*, Φ1O2, and Φ·OH) based on DOM spectral parameters, experimental conditions, and calculation parameters. The best predictive performances for Φ3DOM*, Φ1O2, and Φ·OH were achieved using the CatBoost model, which outperformed the traditional linear regression models. The significances of the wavelength range and spectral parameters on the three ΦPPRI predictions were revealed, suggesting that DOM with lower molecular weight, lower aromatic content, and a more autochthonous portion possessed higher ΦPPRIs. Chain models were constructed by adding the predicted Φ3DOM* as a new feature into the Φ1O2 and Φ·OH models, which consequently improved the predictive performance of Φ1O2 but worsened the Φ·OH prediction likely due to the complex formation pathways of ·OH. Overall, this study offered robust ΦPPRI prediction across interlaboratory differences and provided new insights into the relationship between PPRIs formation and DOM properties.

Rice husk and husk biochar soil amendments store soil carbon while water management controls dissolved organic matter chemistry in well-weathered soil

Rice agriculture feeds over half the world's population, and paddy soils impact the carbon cycle through soil organic carbon (SOC) preservation and production of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), which are greenhouse gases (GHG). Rice husk is a nutrient-rich, underutilized byproduct of rice milling that is sometimes pyrolyzed or combusted. It is unresolved how the incorporation of these residues affects C dynamics in paddy soil. In this study, we sought to determine how untreated (Husk), low-temperature pyrolyzed (Biochar), and combusted (CharSil) husk amendments affect SOC levels, GHG emissions, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) chemistry. We amended Ultisol paddy mesocosms and collected SOC and GHG data for three years of rice grown under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) conditions. We also performed a greenhouse pot study that included water management treatments of nonflooded, AWD, and flooded. Husk, Biochar, and CharSil amendments and flooding generally increased SOC storage and CH₄ emissions, while nonflooded conditions increased N₂O emissions and nonflooded and CharSil treatments increased CO₂ emissions. All amendments stored ∼0.15 kg C m^-2 y^-1 more SOC than CH₄ emissions (as CO₂ equivalents), but the combustion of husk to produce CharSil resulted in the net release of CO₂ which negates any SOC storage. UV-visible absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy from the pot study suggests that nonflooded treatment decreased DOM aromaticity and molecular size. Our data show that flooding and amendment of Husk and Biochar maximized C storage in the highly weathered rice paddy soil under study despite Husk increasing CH₄ emissions. Water management affected dissolved organic matter chemistry more strongly than amendments, but this requires further investigation. Return of rice husk that is untreated or pyrolyzed at low temperature shows promise to close nutrient loops and preserve SOC in rice paddy soils.

Dissolved Organic Matter Photoreactivity Is Determined by Its Optical Properties, Redox Activity, and Molecular Composition

Predicting the formation of photochemically produced reactive intermediates (PPRI) during the irradiation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) has remained challenging given the complex nature of this material and differences in PPRI formation mechanisms. We investigate the role of DOM composition in photoreactivity using 48 samples that span the range of DOM in freshwater systems and wastewater. We relate quantum yields for excited triplet-state organic matter (fTMP), singlet oxygen (Φ1O2), and hydroxylating species (Φ•OH) to DOM composition determined using spectroscopy, Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and electron-donating capacity (EDC). fTMP and Φ1O2 follow similar trends and are correlated with bulk properties derived from UV-vis spectra and EDC. In contrast, no individual bulk property can be used to predict Φ•OH. At the molecular level, the subset of DOM that is positively correlated to both Φ•OH and EDC is distinct from DOM formulas related to Φ1O2, demonstrating that •OH and 1O2 are formed from different DOM fractions. Multiple linear regressions are used to relate quantum yields of each PPRI to DOM composition parameters derived from multiple techniques, demonstrating that complementary methods are ideal for characterizing DOM because each technique only samples a subset of DOM.

Decoupling Optical Response and Photochemical Formation of Singlet Oxygen in Size Isolated Fractions of Ozonated Dissolved Organic Matter

The complex effects of ozonation on the photophysical and size-based properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were investigated using two DOM isolates, Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA) and Pony Lake Fulvic Acid (PLFA). A size exclusion chromatography system paired with absorbance, fluorescence, and total organic carbon detection was used to determine the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_f) as a function of the apparent molecular weight (AMW). Size-based fractions of each isolate were collected and irradiated to measure singlet oxygen (¹O₂) quantum yield (Φ_1O2). Φ_f decreased with ozonation in low AMW fractions, while increasing in high AMW fractions. Φ_1O2 increased with ozone dose in low AMW fractions from ∼2 to ∼7% and ∼3 to ∼11% for PLFA and SRFA, respectively, indicating that these are the most photoreactive fractions of DOM. Decreases in Φ_f and concomitant increases in Φ_1O2 in low AMW fractions indicated that chemical transformations occurred, likely including the conversion of phenols to quinones, particularly in SRFA. Results further suggest that the photoactive and fluorescent fractions of DOM are likely independent pools of chromophores from different AMW fractions. In PLFA, a linear response in Φ_1O2, specific UV absorbance at wavelength 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄), and Φ_f with ozonation indicated the equal distribution of ozone-reactive moieties.

The determination and prediction of the apparent reaction rates between excited triplet-state DOM and selected PPCPs

To determine and predict the reaction rate between ³DOM* and PPCPs in various water bodies, this study defines a reaction rate coefficient ( [Formula: see text] ) to describe the reaction between ³DOM* and PPCPs. As the values also included the inhibition effect of DOM's antioxidant moieties, the calculation of [Formula: see text] is inconsistent with that of a bimolecular rate constant via the steady-state kinetic method. The [Formula: see text] values of 12 selected PPCPs were determined in two DOM solutions and ten DOM-containing water samples collected from typical surface water bodies in Beijing. The Pearson coefficients between nine predictors including the absorbance ratio (E2/E3), specific absorption coefficient at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄), fluorescence index (FI), biological index (BIX), humification index (HIX), pH, total organic carbon (TOC), total fluorescence intensity (TFI) and TOC normalized TFI (TFI/TOC) and [Formula: see text] were examined. Correlation patterns for sulfonamides, β-blockers and diclofenac supported the electron transfer pathway, and was distinctly different from those appeared for FQs where quenching effect played a main part. TFI and TFI/TOC were recognized as the most useful surrogates in empirically predicting [Formula: see text] . For PPCPs that went through the electron transfer pathway, [Formula: see text] could be well fit to the Rehm-Weller model assuming a proportional relationship between TFI and △G_et. For FQs, [Formula: see text] was found to linearly correlated with TFI/TOC. The [Formula: see text] values determined in this study enrich the database of PPCPs photolysis parameters, and the correlation analysis provides reference for forecasting PPCPs fate in the aquatic environment.

Photodegradation of organic micropollutants in aquatic environment: Importance, factors and processes

Photochemical reactions widely occur in the aquatic environment and play fundamental roles in aquatic ecosystems. In particular, solar-induced photodegradation is efficient for many organic micropollutants (OMPs), especially those that cannot undergo hydrolysis or biodegradation, and thus can mitigate chemical pollution. Recent reports indicate that photodegradation may play a more important role than biodegradation in many OMP transformations in the aquatic environment. Photodegradation can be influenced by the water matrix such as pH, inorganic ions, and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The effect of the water matrix such as DOM on photodegradation is complex, and new insights concerning the disparate effects of DOM have recently been reported. In addition, the photodegradation process is also influenced by physical factors such as latitude, water depth, and temporal variations in sunlight as these factors determine the light conditions. However, it remains challenging to gain an overview of the importance of photodegradation in the aquatic environment because the reactions involved are diverse and complex. Therefore, this review provides a concise summary of the importance of photodegradation and the major processes related to the photodegradation of OMPs, with particular attention given to recent progress on the major reactions of DOM. In addition, major knowledge gaps in this field of environmental photochemistry are highlighted.

Inferring Ecosystem Function from Dissolved Organic Matter Optical Properties: A Critical Review

Over the last 30 years, the optical property community has shifted from conducting dissolved organic matter (DOM) measurements on new complex mixtures in natural and engineered systems to furthering ecosystem understanding in the context of past, present, and future carbon (C) cycling regimes. However, the appropriate use of optical properties to understand DOM behavior in complex biogeochemical systems is of recent debate. This critical review provides an extensive survey of DOM optical property literature across atmospheric, marine, and terrestrial biospheres using a categorical approach that probes each biosphere and its subdivisions. Using this approach, a rubric of ecosystem variables, such as productive nature, C cycling rate, C inputs, and water quality, sets the foundation for interpreting commonly used optical property DOM metrics such as fluorescence index (FI), humification index (HIX), and specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄). Case studies and a meta-analysis of each biosphere and subdivision found substantial overlap and characteristic distributions corresponding to ecosystem context for FI, HIX, and SUVA₂₅₄, signifying chromophores and fluorophores from different ecosystems may be more similar than originally thought. This review challenges researchers to consider ecosystem connectivity when applying optical property results rather than making traditional "if this, then that" results-style conclusions.

Contrasting Impacts of Photochemical and Microbial Processing on the Photoreactivity of Dissolved Organic Matter in an Adirondack Lake Watershed

Photochemical and microbial processing are the prevailing mechanisms that shape the composition and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM); however, prior research has not comparatively evaluated the impacts of these processes on the photoproduction of reactive intermediates (RIs) from freshly sourced terrestrial DOM. We performed controlled irradiation and incubation experiments with leaf and soil samples collected from an acid-impacted lake watershed in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York to examine the effects of DOM processing on the apparent quantum yields of RIs (Φ_app,RI), including excited triplet states of DOM (³DOM*), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH). Photodegradation led to net reductions in Φ_app,¹O2, Φ_app,³DOM*, and Φ_app,^•OH, whereas (photo-)biodegradation resulted in increases in Φ_app,¹O2 and Φ_app,³DOM*. Photodegradation and (photo-)biodegradation also shifted the energy distribution of ³DOM* in different directions. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed the potential relevance of photo-biodegradation in driving changes in Φ_app,¹O2 and Φ_app,³DOM* and prioritized five bulk DOM optical and redox properties that best explained the variations in Φ_app,¹O2 and Φ_app,³DOM* along the watershed terrestrial-aquatic continuum. Our findings highlight the contrasting impacts of photochemical and microbial processes on the photoreactivity of freshly sourced terrestrial DOM and invite further studies to develop a more holistic understanding of their implications for aquatic photochemistry.

Computational Calculation of Dissolved Organic Matter Absorption Spectra

The absorption spectrum of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a topic of interest to environmental scientists and engineers as it can be used to assess both the concentration and physicochemical properties of DOM. In this study, the UV-vis spectra for DOM model compounds were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory. Summing these individual spectra, it was possible to re-create the observed exponential shape of the DOM absorption spectra. Additionally, by predicting the effects of sodium borohydride reduction on the model compounds and then calculating the UV-vis absorbance spectra of the reduced compounds, it was also possible to correctly predict the effects of borohydride reduction on DOM absorbance spectra with a relatively larger decrease in absorbance at longer wavelengths. The contribution of charge-transfer (CT) interactions to DOM absorption was also evaluated, and the calculations showed that intra-molecular CT interactions could take place, while inter-molecular CT interactions were proposed to be less likely to contribute.

Novel Insights into the Molecular-Level Mechanism Linking the Chemical Diversity and Copper Binding Heterogeneity of Biochar-Derived Dissolved Black Carbon and Dissolved Organic Matter

Biochar-derived dissolved black carbon (DBC) varies in chemical composition and significantly affects the environmental fate of metal ions. However, the intrinsic molecular composition of DBC fractions and their molecular interaction mechanisms with metal ions remain unclear. We propose a novel, molecular-level covariant binding mechanism to comparatively interpret the heterogeneities, active sites, and sequential responses of copper binding with molecular compounds in DBC and natural dissolved organic matter (DOM). Relatively large proportions of lipid/aliphatic/peptide-like compounds with low mass distributions and lignin-like compounds with oxidized/unsaturated groups existed in acidic- and alkaline-extracted DBC, respectively. A larger percentage of tannin-like/condensed aromatic compounds and higher average conditional stability constants (logK̅_Cu) of visible fluorescent components were found for DOM than for DBC. Overall, 200-320 Da and 320-480 Da molecular components contributed significantly to the logK̅_Cu values of UVA and visible fluorescent components, respectively, in DBC/DOM. Nitrogenous groups likely exhibited stronger binding affinities than phenolic/carboxylic groups. The sequential copper-binding responses of molecular compounds in DBC/DOM generally followed the order lipid/aliphatic/peptide-like compounds → tannin-like compounds → condensed aromatic compounds. These insights will improve the prediction of the potential effects of DBC on various contaminants and the risks of biochar application to ecosystems.

Ultrafast Energy Transfer Determines the Formation of Fluorescence in DOM and Humic Substances

Humification is a ubiquitous natural process of biomass degradation that creates multicomponent systems of nonliving organic matter, including dissolved organic matter (DOM) and humic substances (HS) in water environments, soils, and organic rocks. Despite significant differences in molecular composition, the optical properties of DOM and HS are remarkably similar, and the reason for this remains largely unknown. Here, we employed fluorescence spectroscopy with (sub)picosecond resolution to elucidate the role of electronic interactions within DOM and HS. We revealed an ultrafast decay component with a characteristic decay lifetime of 0.5-1.5 ps and spectral diffusion originating from excitation energy transfer (EET) in the system. The rate of EET was positively correlated to the fraction of aromatic species and tightness of aromatic species packing. Diminishing the number of EET donor-acceptor pairs by reduction with NaBH₄ (decrease of the acceptor number), decrease of pH (decrease of the electron-donating ability), or decrease of the average particle size by filtration (less donor-acceptor pairs within a particle) resulted in a lower impact of the ultrafast component on fluorescence decay. Our results uncover the role of electronic coupling among fluorophores in the formation of DOM and HS optical properties and provide a framework for studying photophysical processes in heterogeneous systems of natural fluorophores.

Relationships between the Physicochemical Properties of Dissolved Organic Matter and Its Reaction with Sodium Borohydride

The reaction of dissolved organic matter (DOM) with sodium borohydride has been used to understand the geographic origin of DOM and investigate the photophysical model underlying DOM's optical properties. However, the physicochemical properties of DOM (e.g., molecular size and charge) that influence the kinetics and ultimate reducibility of DOM by borohydride remain poorly characterized. Herein, we studied the kinetics of DOM-borohydride reactions by recording absorbance and fluorescence spectra at a high temporal frequency (every ∼10 min for 24 h) for a diverse set of DOM isolates of aquatic and soil origin. The reducibility of DOM by sodium borohydride (as judged by relative removal of initial absorbance) varied appreciably among the DOM samples studied, with soil humic substances being less reducible than aquatic humic substances and natural organic matter. While statistically significant correlations were found between the reducibility of DOM and descriptors of molecular size, these descriptors were not able to differentiate the reducibility of soil versus aquatic DOM isolates that had similar bulk properties. Thus, it appears that the extent of absorbance removal by borohydride is largely driven by the origin of the humic substance isolate (aquatic vs soil) instead of molecular size or charge. Borohydride reduction resulted in increased fluorescence emission across UV and visible excitation wavelengths. However, the enhanced emission at visible excitation decreased over a time period of hours to days, suggesting that reduction of an important subset of DOM chromophores is reversible. This reversibility in fluorescence emission is consistent with the small role of quinones in the absorbance of DOM but suggests a more important role for quinone-containing charge-transfer contacts in the fluorescence of DOM, particularly at visible excitation wavelengths.

Singlet Oxygen Quantum Yields in Environmental Waters

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is a reactive oxygen species produced in sunlit waters via energy transfer from the triplet states of natural sensitizers. There has been an increasing interest in measuring apparent ¹O₂ quantum yields (Φ_Δ) of aquatic and atmospheric organic matter samples, driven in part by the fact that this parameter can be used for environmental fate modeling of organic contaminants and to advance our understanding of dissolved organic matter photophysics. However, the lack of reproducibility across research groups and publications remains a challenge that significantly limits the usability of literature data. In the first part of this review, we critically evaluate the experimental techniques that have been used to determine Φ_Δ values of natural organic matter, we identify and quantify sources of errors that potentially explain the large variability in the literature, and we provide general experimental recommendations for future studies. In the second part, we provide a qualitative overview of known Φ_Δ trends as a function of organic matter type, isolation and extraction procedures, bulk water chemistry parameters, molecular and spectroscopic organic matter features, chemical treatments, wavelength, season, and location. This review is supplemented with a comprehensive database of Φ_Δ values of environmental samples.

A simple method to isolate fluorescence spectra from small dissolved organic matter datasets

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complex pool of compounds with a key role in the global carbon cycle. To understand its role in natural and engineered systems, efficient approaches are necessary for tracking DOM quality and quantity. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) is very widely used to identify and quantify different fractions of DOM as proxies of DOM source, concentration and biogeochemical processing. A major limitation of the PARAFAC approach is the requirement for a large data set containing many variable samples in which the fractions vary independently. This severely curtails the possibilities to study fluorescence composition and behavior in small or unique datasets. Herein, we present a simple and inexpensive experimental procedure that makes it possible to mathematically decompose a small dataset containing only highly-correlated fluorescent fractions. The approach, which uses widely-available commercial extraction sorbents and previously established protocols to expand the original dataset and inject the missing chemical variability, can be widely implemented at low cost. A demonstration of the procedure shows how a robust six-component PARAFAC model can be extracted from even a river-water dataset with only five bulk samples. Widespread adoption of the procedure for analyzing small fluorescence datasets is needed to confirm the suspected ubiquity of certain DOM fluorescence fractions and to create a shared inventory of ubiquitous components. Such an inventory could greatly simplify and improve the use of fluorescence as a tool to investigate biogeochemical processing of DOM in diverse water sources.

Computational Assessment of the Three-Dimensional Configuration of Dissolved Organic Matter Chromophores and Influence on Absorption Spectra

The three-dimensional configuration of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important factor in determining the role of DOM in natural and engineered systems, yet there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the formation and potential stability of molecular aggregates within DOM. In this paper, we describe a computational assessment of the three-dimensional configuration of DOM. Specifically, we were interested in evaluating the hypothesis that DOM forms thermodynamically stable molecular aggregates that as a result were potentially shielded from water solvent molecules. Molecular dynamics simulations of DOM model compounds carefully selected based on ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry data revealed that, while DOM does indeed form molecular aggregates, the large majority of molecules (especially, O-atom bearing molecules) are solvent accessible. Additionally, these computations revealed that molecular aggregates are weak and dissociate when placed in organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran, methyl tert-butyl ether). Time-dependent density functional theory calculations demonstrated long-wavelength absorbance for both model DOM chromophores and their molecular aggregates. This study has important implications for determining the origin of DOM optical properties and for enhancing our collective understanding of DOM three-dimensional structures.

Photochemical Characterization of Surface Waters from Lakes in the Adirondack Region of New York

The Adirondack Mountain region of New York, a historical hotspot for atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition, features abundant lakes that are experiencing browning associated with recovery from acidification. Yet, much remains unknown about the photoreactivity of Adirondack lake waters. We quantified the apparent quantum yields (Φ_app,RI) of photochemically produced reactive intermediates (RIs), such as excited triplet states of dissolved organic matter (³DOM*), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), for surface waters collected from 16 representative Adirondack lakes. Φ_app,³DOM* and Φ_app,¹O2 for native Adirondack lake waters fell within ranges reported for whole waters and DOM isolates from various sources, while Φ_app,^•OH were substantially lower than those measured for other aquatic samples. Orthogonal partial least squares and multiple linear regression analyses identified the spectral slope coefficient from 290 to 400 nm (S_290-400) as the most effective predictor of Φ_app,RI among measured water chemistry parameters and bulk DOM properties. Φ_app,RI also exhibited divergent responses to controlled pH adjustment and aluminum or iron addition simulating hypothetical scenarios relevant to past and future water chemistry conditions of Adirondack lakes. This study highlights the need for continued research on changes in photoreactivity of acid-impacted aquatic ecosystems in response to browning and subsequent impacts on photochemical processes.