Dissolved Organic Matter Composition Determines Its Susceptibility to Complete and Partial Photooxidation within Lakes

Photolysis triggers multiple microbial responses: New insights of phosphorus compensation for algal blooms

Photolysis and microbial degradation enabling the rapid mineralization of organic phosphorus constitute the crucial mechanism for phosphorus compensation during algal bloom outbreaks in shallow lakes. This study explored the key pathways of microbial degradation of algae-derived organic phosphorus (ADOP) exacerbated by photolysis through molecular biology techniques. The results showed that photolysis could exacerbate microbial degradation, and the effects on microbial degradation were multifaceted. The photolysis process changes the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the environment and generates DOM components required for microbial activity, among which the saturated compounds significantly promote the increase of microbial biomass. Differential analysis showed that the photolysis process mainly affected the distribution of bacteria and fungi. The saturated compounds and highly aromatic compounds accompanying the photolysis process stimulated the increase of the abundance of phosphorus-cycling functional bacteria and related functional genes. Simultaneously, photolysis also promoted the growth of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing bacteria, and enhanced biological metabolism by stimulating the significant upregulation and differentiation of multiple enzyme protein subunits in cells. In summary, various changes in microorganisms caused by photolysis enhanced their mineralization of ADOP. These results bring new insights into the mechanism of the persistence of algal blooms.

Effects of extracellular organic matter from bacteria on the growth, physiology, photosynthesis, and transcriptome of the bloom-forming algal species

Cyanobacterial blooms pose one of the most severe ecological challenges in aquatic systems. However, the mechanism through which bacterial dissolved organic matter influences the formation of algal blooms remains unclear. In this study, extracellular organic matter (EOM) was extracted from Flavobacterium sp., a common bacterial group in bloom, and the impacts of this EOM on the growth, physiology, photosynthesis, and transcriptome of Anabaena sp. were investigated. The results indicated that flavobacterium-derived EOM (F-EOM) inhibited Anabaena sp. growth, physiological activity, and photosynthesis, with greater inhibition at higher concentrations. Meanwhile, transcriptome analysis showed that 803 genes in Anabaena sp. were differentially expressed after being exposed to 10 mg/L F-EOM, with simultaneously the majority being down-regulated. The down-regulation of genes in photochemical reactions, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigment, and light-trapping antenna protein inhibited photosynthesis. While ATP synthesis was reduced due to the genes related to oxidative phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle was downregulated. Moreover, the down-regulated genes in amino acid synthesis affected the synthesis of proteins and metabolic regulatory factors. This may be the main reason why F-EOM could hinder the growth and metabolism of Anabaena sp. These results provide scientific insights into the formation and control of cyanobacteria blooms.

Impacts of repeated photochemical and microbial processes: Selectively shaping of the dissolved organic matter pool

Abiotic photochemistry and microbial degradation are the two main removal processes of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, the combined and repeated effects of irradiation and biodegradation on DOM remains poorly resolved due to their complex interactions. To disentangle the effects of abiotic photochemistry from photobiology, we alternately exposed coastal DOM to repeated exposures to simulated solar radiation and then to microbial communities in darkness. Our results demonstrated selective impacts on the DOM pool by photochemical and microbial degradation. Photodegradation resulted in the loss of fluorescent (both protein- and humic-like), the enrichment of aliphatic and nitrogen-containing compounds, and an increase in microbial diversity. However, biodegradation drove changes in key molecules (significantly altered) and enhanced the contribution of alicyclic compounds and aromatic compounds containing carboxyl/ester functional groups. Network analysis implicated the irradiation adapted (i.e., Methylophagaceae) microbes in DOM transformations involving the gain and loss of methyl groups, while the non-irradiation adapted (i.e., Alteromonadaceae) microbes appeared to alter DOM composition by the gain and loss of oxygen atoms. Our findings distinguish the selective contributions of irradiation and biodegradation processes and point to the complex interactions between photochemical and biological processes that jointly shape the DOM pool.

Generation of DBPs from dissolved organic matter by solar photolysis of chlorine: Associated changes of cytotoxicity and reactive species

Since elevated amounts of chlorine disinfectant were discharged into surface water, more attention should be paid to the reactions between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and chlorine under sunlight. However, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed from DOM by solar photolysis of chlorine, and changes of cytotoxicity during this process remain unclear. In this study, it was found that solar photolysis of chlorine significantly promoted the formation of aliphatic chlorinated DBPs and aromatic chlorinated DBPs (including chlorobenzoquinone) by 44.7-109 % and 81.7-121 %, respectively compared with dark chlorination. Unknown total organic chlorine contained in low molecular weight fraction (<1 kD) significantly positively correlated to the cytotoxicity of water samples. Several factors (bicarbonate, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, ammonia, bromide, and iodide) affecting the radical chemistry, and the formation of DBPs under solar photolysis of chlorine were also investigated. Reactive species including HO•, Cl•, O3, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were responsible for forming different DBPs. Especially O3 increased the formation of most categories of DBPs tested in this study, and RNS contributed to the formation of nitrogenous DBPs. This study provided more understanding of the adverse impact of overused chlorine, and reaction mechanisms between reactive species and DOM.

Use of Copper in Evaluating the Role of Phenolic Moieties in the Photooxidation of Dissolved Organic Matter

In a recent study, copper was shown to act as a novel quencher for investigating the mechanism of the photooxidation and photobleaching of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by selectively quenching the one-electron oxidizing intermediates of DOM (DOMD•+). However, the capture of DOMD•+ by Cu is possibly partially due to strong competition from phenolic antioxidant moieties intrinsically present in DOM for DOMD•+ quenching. In this study, the extent of interaction between DOMD•+ and phenolic antioxidant moieties is quantified by measuring the inhibitory effect of Cu on DOM photooxidation and photobleaching under varying pH (5.2-10.0) conditions. The increase in pH facilitates formation of deprotonated phenolic moieties (pKa ∼ 9-10), increasing their quenching capacity of DOMD•+. Accordingly, our results indicate that the inhibitory effect of Cu on the DOM photobleaching and the loss of electron-donating moieties of DOM significantly decreased with an increase in pH, suggesting more pronounced competition for DOMD•+ from antioxidant phenolic moieties within DOM. Considering the precursors of DOMD•+ also originate from phenolic moieties of DOM, the findings of this study provide important insights into the long-distance charge transfer reactions occurring at different phenolic moiety sites during DOM photooxidation.

Assessing the photochemical mineralisation of dissolved organic carbon in lakes

Photochemical mineralisation is an abiotic process by which the organic matter in natural waters, which is mostly dissolved, is eventually transformed into CO2 by the action of sunlight. The process has important implications for global C cycling, the penetration of sunlight into the water column, photochemical reactions, and microbial processes. Here we applied an approximated photochemical model to assess the extent of CO2 photogeneration by mineralisation of dissolved organic matter in lakes located between 60°S and 60°N latitude. The results suggest that, although lake-water organic matter would usually undergo faster photomineralisation in the tropical belt than elsewhere, by far the highest contributions to the photochemical production of CO2 would come from lakes located between 30°N and 60°N latitude. In particular, of the ~7 × 104 lakes we selected for the study, around 50 % of CO2 photogeneration would be accounted for by just 7 large lakes, of which only one is located in the tropical belt. It appears that the lake surface is a very important factor that affects the overall photomineralisation potential of dissolved organic matter.

Tracking the Changes of DOM Composition, Transformation, and Cycling Mechanism Triggered by the Priming Effect: Insights from Incubation Experiments

The priming effect (PE) is recognized as an important mechanism influencing organic matter transformation in aquatic systems. The land-ocean aquatic continuum (LOAC) has received large quantities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from various sources, which is an ideal interface for PE research. Here, we investigated the PE process by utilizing such a coastal environment to explore the turnover of DOM in the LOAC system. Suwannee River natural organic matter was selected as the background, and various external environmental samples were introduced to track the changes of organic carbon. The PE process together with the variations of DOM sources, compositions, and structures was characterized. Generally, river and estuary environments exhibited a positive PE, while the offshore zone showed a negative effect. Additionally, nutrients, salinity, and DOM composition all contributed to the PE. After the incubation, the feature of carbon sources transferred from terrestrial to autochthonous. The carbonyl and alcohol functional groups significantly decomposed, while the methyl and methylene groups increased and heteroatoms further accelerated the PE process. The data also shows that special parameters and molecular markers can be utilized to track the carbon response to the PE. This research indicates that the change of carbon flux and the imbalance of its budget in aquatic systems could be partially explained from the perspective of the PE.

Photochemistry of dissolved organic matter derived from compost

The extensive application of compost to enhance soil quality highlights the crucial role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from compost in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, influencing carbon cycling and the fate of contaminants. However, the photochemical behavior of compost-derived DOM (DOMCOM) remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the photochemical transformation and photoactivity of DOM derived from typical composts produced from cow manure (CDOM) and pig manure (PDOM). The results indicated that the initial CDOM exhibited higher molecular weight, aromaticity, humification, and photoactivity compared to PDOM. Under UV irradiation, both DOMCOM underwent photobleaching and photo-humification, resulting in a decrease in the average molecular weight by 23.68 % for CDOM and 3.82 % for PDOM, with CDOM being particularly affected. Meanwhile, 2D-COS analysis revealed that the fulvic-like fluorescence fraction was first to respond to photoirradiation in both DOM, followed by the protein-like and microbial humic-like fluorescence fractions, which showed contrasting response trends in CDOM and PDOM. Furthermore, CDOM with a higher concentration of humic-like substances efficiently generated 3DOM*, 1O2 and •OH (4.09 × 10-8, 1.17 × 10-8 and 7.05 × 10-12, respectively) under UV radiation, which were apparently greater than those produced by PDOM (3.30 × 10-8, 8.38 × 10-9 and 4.99 × 10-12, respectively).

Molecular-level insights into the leachates released from ultraviolet-aged biodegradable and conventional commercial microplastics and their mechanism of toxicity toward Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Understanding the harmful effects of microplastics (MPs) and their derivatives is a priority in environmental study. However, the characteristics and toxic effects of leachates from MPs at the molecular-level remain unclear. Herein, two conventional commercial MPs [polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE)] and two biodegradable commercial MPs [polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate/PLA (PBAT/PLA)] were subjected to leaching under ultraviolet-irradiation, and their leachates were investigated. The results showed that the surface morphology of MPs increased in roughness after ultraviolet-irradiation treatment, especially for biodegradable MPs, meanwhile, the particle size of four MPs decreased in various degrees. The biodegradable MPs released several times more dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nano-plastic particles than conventional MPs. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry revealed that lignin-like substances were the predominant component of MP-DOM, followed by protein- and tannin-like substances. The molecular composition and characteristics of the DOM varied significantly among MPs. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 737 and 1259 genes, respectively, were differentially expressed in Chlorella pyrenoidosa in PLA- and PBAT/PLA-MP leachate-treated groups compared with controls, more than in the PS (352) and PE (355) groups. These findings, verified by physiological and histopathological analyses, indicate that the leachates from the biodegradable MPs induced more damage to Chlorella pyrenoidosa than those from the conventional MPs. This is mainly attributed to far more DOM and nano-plastic particles containing in leachates of biodegradable MPs than these of conventional MPs. This study deepens our comprehension of the potential hazards of MP-leachates, and promotes the prudent use and disposal of plastic products.

Long-Term Photochemical and Microbial Alterations Lead to the Compositional Convergence of Algal and Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter

Lakes are expected to become more active in processing dissolved organic matter (DOM), but the fate of DOM with different origins remains poorly constrained. We conducted long-term incubation experiments (∼1 year) with sole light, sole microbial, and combined light and microbial treatments using DOM from algal and terrestrial sources (DOMa and DOMt, respectively). Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and 16s rRNA were used to analyze the DOM molecular composition and bacterial community, respectively. We observed that DOMa and DOMt converged toward a similar composition under the combined light and microbial treatment, driven by the removal of source-specific compositions along with the production of refractory, carboxylic-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM). For CRAM enrichment, microbial processes played a greater role for DOMa, while phototransformation was more important for DOMt. The co-occurrence patterns between DOM molecules and bacteria showed that DOM molecular composition influenced the bacterial community. More complex DOM-bacteria interactions were observed for DOMt compared to DOMa, suggesting that greater bacterial cooperation was necessary for transforming DOMt. Collectively, these findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying the uniformity of DOM from various sources through prolonged environmental transformations in lakes.

A comprehensive conceptual framework for signaling in-lake CO2 through dissolved organic matter

Organic carbon (C) and CO2 pools are closely interactive in aquatic environments. While there are strong indications linking freshwater CO2 to dissolved organic matter (DOM), the specific mechanisms underlying their common pathways remain unclear. Here, we present an extensive investigation from 20 subtropical lakes in China, establishing a comprehensive conceptual framework for identifying CO2 drivers and retrieving CO2 magnitude through co-trajectories of DOM evolution. Based on this framework, we show that lake CO2 during wet period is constrained by a combination of biogeochemical processes, while photo-mineralization of activated aromatic compounds fuels CO2 during dry period. We clearly determine that biological degradation of DOM governs temporal variations in CO2 rather than terrestrial C inputs within the subtropical lakes. Specifically, our results identify a shared route for the uptake of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic compounds and CO2 by lakes. Using machine learning, in-lake CO2 levels are well modelled through DOM signaling regardless of varying CO2 mechanisms. This study unravels the mechanistic underpinnings of causal links between lake CO2 and DOM, with important implications for understanding obscure aquatic CO2 drivers amidst the ongoing impacts of global climate change.

Comparing molecular signatures of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in four large freshwater lakes differing in hydrological connectivity to the Changjiang River

Freshwater lakes serve as active conduits for processing terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM), playing a crucial role in global carbon cycle. Little attention has been paid to how hydrological connectivity to a large river would affect the molecular signatures of DOM in lakes. Here, we systematically characterized and compared the molecular signatures of DOM in surface waters of four large freshwater lakes in the middle and lower Changjiang River basin that are directly connected to the river (Lake Dongting and Lake Poyang, referred to as Lakeconnected) or indirectly connected to the river (Lake Chao and Lake Tai, referred to as Lakenonconnected). The DOM in Lakeconnected was found to have similar total organic carbon (TOC)-normalized contents and characteristics of lignin phenols to the DOM in surface waters from the upstream Changjiang river, indicating allochthonous/terrestrial sources from riverine inputs. As indicated by the UV-vis and fluorescence analyses, the DOM in Lakeconnected overall had higher aromaticity and larger average molecular weight as well as stronger allochthonous feature compared to the DOM in Lakenonconnected. Consistently, the FT-ICR MS analysis revealed that the DOM in Lakeconnected had higher molecular diversity, higher unsaturation degree, and larger proportions of highly aromatic compounds. In contrast, the DOM in Lakenonconnected had larger proportions of lipids and peptide-like structures, but lower proportions of aromatic compounds, which could be ascribed to the enhanced autochthonous production and photodegradation due to pollution and eutrophication as well as longer water residence time. The results highlight the strong impacts of the hydrological connectivity to a large river on the molecular signatures of lake DOM. CAPSULE: The hydrological connectivity of the lakes to the Changjiang River has strong impacts on the molecular signatures of lake DOM.

Photoinduced Evolutions of Permafrost-Derived Carbon in Subarctic Thermokarst Pond Surface Waters

In subarctic regions, rising temperature and permafrost thaw lead to the formation of thermokarst ponds, where organics from eroding permafrost accumulate. Despite its environmental significance, limited knowledge exists regarding the photosensitivity of permafrost-derived carbon in these ponds. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to explore the photochemical transformations of organic matter in surface water samples from thermokarst ponds from different environments in northern Quebec, Canada. One pond near Kuujjuarapik is characterized by the presence of a collapsing palsa and is therefore organically rich, while the other pond near Umiujaq is adjacent to a collapsing lithalsa and thus contains fewer organic matters. Photobleaching occurred in the Umiujaq sample upon irradiation, whereas the Kuujjuarapik sample exhibited an increase in light absorbance at wavelength related to aromatic functionalities, indicating different photochemical aging processes. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry analysis reveals that the Kuujjuarapik sample preferentially photoproduced highly unsaturated CHO compounds with great aromaticity, while the irradiated Umiujaq sample produced a higher proportion of CHON aromatics with reduced nitrogen functionalities. Overall, this study illustrates that the photochemical reactivity of thermokarst pond water varies with the source of organic matter. The observed differences in reactivity contribute to an improved understanding of the photochemical emission of volatile organic compounds discovered earlier. Further insights into the photoinduced evolutions in thermokarst ponds may require the classification of permafrost-derived carbon therein.

Insights into the transformation of dissolved organic matter and carbon preservation on a MnO2 surface: Effect of molecular weight of dissolved organic matter

Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) is easily adsorbed and transformed by soil minerals and is an important redox-active component of soil and sediment. However, the effects of the molecular weight of DOM on the interface between MnO2 and DOM remain unclear. Herein, fulvic acid (FA) from peat was size-fractionated into four molecular weight fractions (FA>10kDa, FA5-10kDa, FA3-5kDa, and FA<3kDa) and then reacted with δ-MnO2 in this study. The affinity of FA for MnO2 varied significantly with different molecular weights, and large molecular weight FA was more easily adsorbed by MnO2. After 30 h of reaction, the highest mineralization rate was for FA>10kDa (42.39 %), followed by FA5-10kDa (28.65 %), FA3-5kDa (25.58 %), and FA<3kDa (20.37 %), consistent with the results of adsorption. The stronger reducing ability of the large molecular weight fraction of FA to MnO2 was mainly attributed to hydrophobic functional groups, promoting adsorption by MnO2 and the exposure of more active sites. The main active species involved in the mineralization of FA were •OH and Mn4+ through the quenching experiment. Our findings confirm that the large molecular weight fractions of FA play a crucial part in the adsorption and redox reactions of MnO2. These results may help evaluate the performance of different molecular characteristics of FA in the biogeochemical cycles of MnO2 in the soil environment.

Contribution of complexed Fe(Ⅱ) oxygenation to norfloxacin humification and stabilization: Producing and trapping of more humified products

Organic pollutants polymerization in advanced oxidation processes or environmental matrices has attracted increasing attention, but little is known about stabilization of the polymerization products. The results in this work revealed the contribution of Fe(Ⅱ) oxygenation to stabilization of the products from norfloxacin (NOR) humification. It was found that upon oxygenation of Fe(Ⅱ) complexed by catechol (CT), NOR polymerized into the products with larger molecular weight through nucleophilic addition. Around 83.9-89.7 % organic carbon (OC) can be retained in the reaction solution and the precipitates at different Fe(II)/CT molar ratio. In this system with humification potential, the produced hydroxyl radical (HO•) dominantly modified, instead of decomposed, the structure of transformation products (TPs). TPs with diversified side chains were formed through hydroxylation and ring-opening, leading to the more humified products. In the subsequent Fe(Ⅱ) oxidative precipitation, Fe-TPs composites were formed as spherical particle clusters, which could steadily incorporate OC species with molecular fractionation. Specifically, lignin-like, tannins-like, condensed aromatic and high-molecular-weight TPs were preferentially preserved in the precipitates, while the recalcitrant aliphatic products mainly retained in the solution. These findings shed light on the role of Fe(Ⅱ) oxygenation in stabilizing the products from pollutants humification, which could strengthen both decontamination and organics sequestration.

Role of Direct and Sensitized Photolysis in the Photomineralization of Dissolved Organic Matter and Model Chromophores to Carbon Dioxide

This study addresses the fundamental processes that drive the photomineralization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to carbon dioxide (CO2), deconvoluting the role of direct and sensitized photolysis. Here, a suite of DOM isolates and model compounds were exposed to simulated sunlight in the presence of various physical and chemical quenchers to assess the magnitude, rate, and extent of direct and sensitized photomineralization to CO2. Results suggest that CO2 formation occurs in a biphasic kinetic system, with fast production occurring within the first 3 h, followed by slower production thereafter. Notably, phenol model chromophores were the highest CO2 formers and, when conjugated with carboxylic functional groups, exhibited a high efficiency for CO2 formation relative to absorbed light. Simple polycarboxylated aromatic compounds included in this study were shown to be resistant to photomineralization. Quencher results suggest that direct photolysis and excited triplet state sensitization may be largely responsible for CO2 photoproduction in DOM, while singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical sensitization may play a limited role. After 3 h of irradiation, the CO2 formation rate significantly decreased, and the role of sensitized reactions in CO2 formation increased. Together, the results from this study advance the understanding of the fundamental reactions driving DOM photomineralization to CO2, which is an important part of the global carbon cycle.

Unraveling the photochemical behavior of dissolved organic matter derived from hydrothermal carbonization process water: Insights from molecular transformation and photoactive species

Hydrothermal carbonization process water (HTPW) has been utilized as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in agricultural applications. However, the input of HTPW into paddy water, particularly the significant proportion of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in HTPW (DOM-HTPW), directly engages in photochemical transformations, a phenomenon often overlooked. This study observed a consistent decrease in humification (SUVA280, 7.7-53.9%) and aromaticity (SUVA254, 6.1-40.0%) of DOM-HTPW after irradiation. The primary active photobleaching components of DOM-HTPW varied depending on the feedstock, such as protein for chicken manure DOM-HTPW and lignin for rice straw DOM-HTPW. The photochemical activity of DOM-HTPW was augmented by its lower molecular weight and higher hydrophilic composition, particularly evident in chicken manure DOM-HTPW, which exhibited higher generation rates for 1O2 (35.1-37.1%), 3DOM* (32.8-43.9%), and O2•- (28.6-48.8%) as measured by molecular probes. DOM-HTPW effectively facilitated the phototransformation of tetracycline, with the contribution of O2•- being more significant than 3DOM* and 1O2. These findings shed new light on the understanding the photochemical processes of DOM-HTPW as exogenous DOM and the interconnected fate of contaminants in aquatic environments.

Photochemical processes transform dissolved organic matter differently depending on its initial composition

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one of the most important fluxes in the global carbon cycle but its response to light exposure remains unclear at a molecular-level. The chemical response of DOM to light should vary with its molecular composition and environmental conditions while some basic hypotheses are still unclear, such as the balance between photobleaching and photo-humification and the question of oxidative properties. Here we exposed aquatic DOM from diverse freshwaters impacted by different levels of anthropogenic activity and algal exudates to environmentally-realistic light conditions. We found that photobleaching occurred in DOM with relatively high initial humic content producing low H/C molecules, whereas DOM with low initial humic content was humified. DOM pools with relatively high initial saturation and low aromaticity were prone to transform towards more unsaturated molecular formulae and high H/C molecules with a distinct decrease of bioavailability. Photo-transformation was mainly influenced by reactive intermediates, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) playing a dominant role in humification when the initial humus content of DOM was high. In contrast, for algal DOM with high protein content, it was likely that the autoxidation of excited state DOM was more important than indirect oxidation involving ROS. Our results reveal how photo-transformation patterns depend on the initial composition of DOM and provide new insights into the role of photochemical processes in biogeochemical cycling of DOM.

Spatial variations of DOM in a diverse range of lakes across various frozen ground zones in China: Insights into molecular composition

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a significant role in aquatic biogeochemical processes and the carbon cycle. As global climate warming continues, it is anticipated that the composition of DOM in lakes will be altered. This could have significant ecological and environmental implications, particularly in frozen ground zones. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the spatial variations and molecular composition of DOM in lakes within various frozen ground zones. In this study, we examined the spatial variations of in-lake DOM both quantitatively, focusing on dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and qualitatively, by evaluating optical properties and conducting molecular characterization using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Lakes in cold regions retained more organic carbon compared to those in warmer regions, the comparison of the mean value of DOC concentration of all sampling sites in the same frozen ground zone showed that the highest mean lake DOC concentration found in the permafrost zone at 21.4 ± 19.3 mg/L. We observed decreasing trends in E2:E3 and MLBL, along with increasing trends in SUVA254 and AImod, along the gradually warming ground. These trends suggest lower molecular weight, reduced aromaticity, and increased molecular lability of in-lake DOM in the permafrost zone compared to other frozen ground zones. Further FT-ICR MS characterization revealed significant molecular-level heterogeneity of DOM, with the lowest abundance of assigned DOM molecular formulas found in lakes within permafrost zones. In all studied zones, the predominant molecular formulas in-lake DOM were compounds consisted by CHO elements, accounting for 40.1 % to 63.1 % of the total. Interestingly, the percentage of CHO exhibited a gradual decline along the warming ground, while there was an increasing trend in nitrogen-containing compounds (CHON%). Meanwhile, a substantial number of polyphenols were identified, likely due to the higher rates of DOM mineralization and the transport of terrestrial DOM derived from vascular plants under the elevated temperature and precipitation conditions in the warming region. In addition, sulfur-containing compounds (CHOS and CHNOS) associated with synthetic surfactants and agal derivatives were consistently detected, and their relative abundances exhibited higher values in seasonal and short-frozen ground zones. This aligns with the increased anthropogenic disturbances to the lake's ecological environment in these two zones. This study reported the first description of in-lake DOM at the molecular level in different frozen ground zones. These findings underline that lakes in the permafrost zone serve as significant hubs for carbon processing. Investigating them may expand our understanding of carbon cycling in inland waters.

Widespread chemical dilution of streams continues as long-term effects of acidic deposition slowly reverse

Studies of recovery from acidic deposition have focused on reversal of acidification and its associated effects, but as recovery proceeds slowly, chemical dilution of surface waters is emerging as a key factor in the recovery process that has significant chemical and biological implications. This investigation uses long-term chemical records from 130 streams in the Adirondack region of New York, USA, to evaluate the role of ongoing decreases in conductance, an index of dilution, in the recovery of these streams. Stream chemistry data spanning up to 40 years (1980s-2022) showed that acid-neutralizing capacity has increased in 92% of randomly selected streams, but that harmful levels of acidification still occur in 37% of these streams. Conductance and Ca2+ concentrations decreased in 79% of streams, and SO42- concentrations in streams continued to show strong decreases but remained several times higher than concentrations in precipitation. These changes were ongoing through 2022 even though acidic deposition levels were approaching those estimated for pre-industrialization. Further dilution is continuing through ongoing decreases in stream SO42-. Nevertheless, Ca2+ continued to be leached from soils by SO42-, organic acids and NO3-, limiting the replenishment of available soil Ca2+, a prerequisite to stem further dilution of stream water.

Photochemical Transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter in Surface Water Augmented the Formation of Disinfection Byproducts

Sunlight may lead to changes in disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation potentials of source water via transforming dissolved organic matter (DOM); however, the underlying mechanisms behind these changes remain unclear. This work systematically investigated the effect of photochemical transformation of DOM from reservoir water (DOMRe) and micropolluted river water (DOMRi) after 36 h of simulated sunlight irradiation (equivalent to one month under natural sunlight) on DBPs formation. Upon irradiation, high molecular weight (MW) and aromatic molecules tended to be mineralized or converted into low-MW and highly oxidized (O/C > 0.5) ones which might react with chlorine to generate high levels of DBPs, resulting in an elevation in the yields (μg DBP/mg C) of almost all the measured DBPs and the quantities of unknown DBPs in both DOM samples after chlorination. Additionally, DOMRi contained more aromatic molecules susceptible to photooxidation than DOMRe. Consequently, irradiated DOMRi exhibited a greater increase in the formation potentials of haloacetonitriles, halonitromethanes, and specific regulated DBPs, with nitrogenous DBPs being responsible for the overall rise in the calculated cytotoxicity following chlorination. This work emphasized the importance of a comprehensive removal of phototransformation products that may serve as DBPs precursors from source waters, especially from micropolluted source waters.

Influence of Divalent Cation Inhibition and Dissolved Organic Matter Enhancement on Phenol Oxidation Kinetics by Manganese Oxides

Manganese oxides can oxidize organic compounds, such as phenols, and may potentially be used in passive water treatment applications. However, the impact of common water constituents, including cations and dissolved organic matter (DOM), on this reaction is poorly understood. For example, the presence of DOM can increase or decrease phenol oxidation rates with manganese oxides. Furthermore, the interactions of DOM and cations and their impact on the phenol oxidation rates have not been examined. Therefore, we investigated the oxidation kinetics of six phenolic contaminants with acid birnessite in ten whole water samples. The oxidation rate constants of 4-chlorophenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-bromophenol, and phenol consistently decreased in all waters relative to buffered ultrapure water, whereas the oxidation rate of bisphenol A and triclosan increased by up to 260% in some waters. Linear regression analyses and targeted experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of phenol oxidation is largely determined by cations. Furthermore, quencher experiments indicated that radical-mediated interactions from oxidized DOM contributed to enhanced oxidation of bisphenol A. The variable changes between compounds and water samples demonstrate the challenge of accurately predicting contaminant transformation rates in environmentally relevant systems based on experiments conducted in the absence of natural water constituents.

Quantifying Stochastic Processes in Shaping Dissolved Organic Matter Pool with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents a ubiquitous molecular mixture, progressively characterized by spatiotemporal resolution. However, an inadequate comprehension of DOM molecular dynamics, especially the stochastic processes involved, hinders carbon cycling predictions. This study employs ecological principles to introduce a neutral theory to elucidate the fundamental processes involving molecular generation, degradation, and migration. A neutral model is thus formulated to assess the probability distribution of DOM molecules, whose frequencies and abundances follow a β-distribution relationship. The neutral model is subsequently validated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data from various waterbodies, including lakes, rivers, and seas. The model fitting highlights the prevalence of molecular neutral distribution and quantifies the stochasticity within DOM molecular dynamics. Furthermore, the model identifies deviations of HRMS observations from neutral expectations in photochemical and microbial experiments, revealing nonrandom molecular transformations. The ecological null model further validates the neutral modeling results, demonstrating that photodegradation reduces molecular stochastic dynamics at the surface of an acidic pit lake, while random distribution intensifies at the river surface compared with the porewater. Taken together, the DOM molecular neutral model emphasizes the significance of stochastic processes in shaping a natural DOM pool, offering a potential theoretical framework for DOM molecular dynamics in aquatic and other ecosystems.

Limitations of conventional approaches to identify photochemically produced reactive intermediates involved in contaminant indirect photodegradation

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) mediated indirect photodegradation can play an important role in the degradation of aquatic contaminants. Predicting the rate of this process requires knowledge of the photochemically produced reactive intermediates (PPRI) that react with the compound of interest, as well as the ability of individual DOM samples to produce PPRI. Key PPRI are typically identified using quencher studies, yet this approach often leads to results that are difficult to interpret. In this work, we analyze the indirect photodegradation of atorvastatin, carbamazepine, sulfadiazine, and benzotriazole using a diverse set of 48 waters from natural and engineered aquatic systems. We use this large data set to evaluate relationships between PPRI formation and indirect photodegradation rate constants, which are directly compared to results using standard quenching experiments. These data demonstrate that triplet state DOM (3DOM) and singlet oxygen (1O2) are critical PPRI for atorvastatin, carbamazepine, and sulfadiazine, while hydroxyl radical (˙OH) contributes to the indirect photodegradation of benzotriazole. We caution against relying on quenching studies because quenching of 3DOM limits the formation of 1O2 and all studied quenchers react with ˙OH. Furthermore, we show that DOM composition directly influences indirect photodegradation and that low molecular weight, microbial-like DOM is positively correlated with the indirect photodegradation rates of carbamazepine, sulfadiazine, and benzotriazole.

Unraveling the photochemical reactivity of dissolved organic matter in the Yangtze river estuary: Integrating incubations with field observations

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) sustains a substantial part of the organic matter transported seaward in large estuaries, where photochemical reactions significantly influence its transformation and fate. Irradiation experiments can provide valuable information on the photochemical reactivity (photo-labile, photo-resistant, and photo-product) of molecules. However, previous research paid less attention to exploring the controls of the initial DOM chemistry to irradiation experiments and examining the applicability of their further integration with field research. Here, we conducted irradiation experiments for samples from the freshwater and seawater endmember of the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE), which receives organic matter transport from the largest river in China, the Yangtze River. Molecules that occurred before and after irradiation experiments were characterized by the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Results show that both post-irradiation samples have the lower aromaticity degree and reduced oxidation state, while the freshwater endmember sample exhibits more dramatic changes, indicating the controls of parent molecules to the effect of irradiation experiments. Integrating with the "molecular matching" approach, we compared the molecules occurring in field samples with the classified molecules (photo-resistant, photo-labile, and photo-product) acquired from performed irradiation experiments and correlated the relative intensity of photochemical reactivity types with salinity. When applying results from different experiments to conduct "molecular matching", the photo-resistant and photo-labile relative intensity possess consistently positive and negative trends with increasing salinity, respectively. This suggests their reliability for molecular matching applications, while the inconsistent trends for the photo-product relative intensity with salinity suggest its uncertainty in assessing the photo-induced effects. Moreover, the molecular composition within the photochemical reactivity types in field samples also evolved along the salinity gradient and showed similar trends with the DOM changes after experimental irradiation. Despite various factors influencing estimations, it is revealed that a fraction of aromatic molecules and majority of carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules considered with biologically persistent nature in the YRE freshwater zone are simultaneously not susceptible to photochemical transformation to potentially constitute a long-term marine carbon sink. This study emphasizes the importance and limitations of the combination of field research and laboratory-controlled experiments to provide a better understanding of the crucial role of photochemical reactions in affecting carbon cycling in large estuaries.