Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is important for water quality and environmental health. Our experiments explore the effect of common natural processes on water samples collected from rivers and marshlands throughout France. Samples were frozen or exposed to UV irradiation, and then measured and analyzed using fluorescence and UV-visual spectroscopy techniques. We found that freezing treatments changed portions of the samples’ optical spectra, but the changes are largely irregular and difficult to predict. Our UV irradiation experiments found that DOM compounds were usually degraded into smaller compounds. Our results indicate factors that changed significantly in response to the treatments, which can be used to guide future experiments.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Boigenzahn, Hayley A
• Whalen, Rachel R

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031518-141357

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2018

Center

• Nancy, France Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• ENSIC

Date created

• 2018-03-15

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright