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Dissolved Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 2071

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
Interests: dissolved organic matter; characterization techniques; biogeochemical process; source identification; lake eutrophication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a critical role in biogeochemical processes in marine and freshwater systems, affecting the fate, bioavailability, and toxicity of aquatic exogenous chemical species (e.g., heavy metals, organic pollutants, and nanomaterials). An in-depth understanding of the nature, reactivity, and environmental implications of DOM is of great importance in the field of environment and ecological chemistry. However, a thorough knowledge of its exact nature and environmental roles is still lacking. In this Special Issue, we aim to bring together researchers to exchange the latest research relating to biogeochemical behavior and the environmental implications of DOM in aquatic environments. The topics of interest to this Special Issue may be related, but are not necessarily limited, to the following:

  • Novel techniques and strategies for the analysis and characterization of DOM in diverse aquatic environments;
  • Biogeochemical processes such as degradation, mineralization, adsorption, and flocculation;
  • The interaction of DOM with emerging contaminants;
  • Large-scale DOM dynamics and their drivers;
  • The remote sensing of DOM in aquatic environments.

Dr. Shasha Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • DOM
  • water quality
  • aquatic environments
  • biogeochemical processes

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3110 KB  
Article
Modeling Dissolved Organic Carbon in an Estuary Using Optical Properties and Salinity
by Melissa W. Southwell, Conrad Schindler and Francisco Ramirez
Water 2025, 17(21), 3133; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213133 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
UV-Visible spectroscopy provides qualitative and quantitative information on colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) that can be used as a proxy for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We developed an absorbance-based linear model of DOC for the San Sebastian River estuary in NE Florida. We [...] Read more.
UV-Visible spectroscopy provides qualitative and quantitative information on colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) that can be used as a proxy for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We developed an absorbance-based linear model of DOC for the San Sebastian River estuary in NE Florida. We compared linear and mixed models, with and without salinity as an additional fixed effect. All models exhibited strong correlations (R2 = 0.88–0.97) with measured DOC values for the training dataset. The model with the strongest performance on the testing dataset was a linear model containing the absorption coefficient at 254 nm, the spectral slope at 275–295 nm, and salinity. The range of measured DOC was 0.5 to 52.3 mg/L, and the model was able to predict DOC concentrations for an independent testing dataset with a relative mean absolute error of 17%. Incubation experiments indicated that aging and photolysis altered absorption coefficients and spectral slopes, which negatively affected the model performance, particularly for photolysis. However, predicted DOC was still well-correlated (R2 > 0.9) with measured DOC, even for photolyzed samples. Spectral slope ratios indicate that DOM in the San Sebastian River is mainly terrigenous, and that hydrologic variability, possibly associated with freshwater inflow from rainfall, influences DOC/CDOM concentration and composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dissolved Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments)
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Review

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25 pages, 1708 KB  
Review
Insights into the Interaction Between Coagulants and Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in Drinking Water Treatment: A Review of Floc Formation and Floc Aging
by Hongyan Sun, Huasen Lin, Jianmin Shi and Zhiqing Kuang
Water 2025, 17(21), 3124; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213124 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
The efficient removal of natural organic matter (NOM) through a coagulation process is crucial for improving the quality of drinking water. Recent studies have focused on the interaction between NOM and coagulants during the floc formation and aging process. Therefore, based on the [...] Read more.
The efficient removal of natural organic matter (NOM) through a coagulation process is crucial for improving the quality of drinking water. Recent studies have focused on the interaction between NOM and coagulants during the floc formation and aging process. Therefore, based on the relevant literature from the past few decades, this review focuses on changes in floc activity during floc formation and aging at a molecular level. It systematically clarifies the mechanisms and factors influencing floc formation and aging and summarizes the characterization techniques for NOM and flocs. Notably, the interaction between NOM and coagulant flocs is determined by the presence of carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups on NOM and hydroxyl groups (η-OH) and water molecules (η-OH2) on coagulant flocs. Aging involves the transformation of coagulant species and an increase in floc crystallinity, which leads to the absorption or release of organic matter. Although numerous analytical techniques currently offer new insights into the interaction between coagulants and NOM, in situ characterization techniques remain limited. This review provides a theoretical foundation for the full life cycle assessment of NOM in coagulation processes, which is of great significance for advancing drinking water technologies and achieving carbon neutrality goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dissolved Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments)
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