SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial distribution of sediment dissolved organic matter in oligotrophic lakes and its binding characteristics with Pb(II) and Cu(II)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Dissolved organic matter (DOM), the most active component in interstitial waters, determines the stability of heavy metals and secondary release in sediments. However, little is known about the composition and metal-binding patterns of DOM in interstitial water from oligotrophic lakes affected by different anthropogenic perturbations. Here, 18 interstitial water samples were prepared from sediments in agricultural, residential, tourist, and forest regions in an oligotrophic lake (Shengzhong Lake in Sichuan Province, China) watershed. Interstitial water quality and DOM composition, properties, and Cu(II)- and Pb(II)-binding characteristics were measured via physicochemical analysis, UV–vis spectroscopic, fluorescence excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), and fluorescence titration methods. The DOM, which was produced mainly by microbial activities, had low molecular weights, humification degrees, and aromaticity. Based on EEM-PARAFAC results, the DOM was generally composed of tryptophan- (57.7%), terrestrial humic- (18.7%), microbial humic- (15.6%), and tyrosine-like (8.0%) substances. The DOM in the metal complexes was primarily composed of tryptophan-like substances, which accounted for ~42.6% of the DOM-Cu(II) complexes and ~72.0% of the DOM-Pb(II) complexes; however, microbial humic-like substances primarily contributed to the stability of DOM-Cu(II) (logKCu = 3.7−4.6) and DOM-Pb(II) (logKPb = 4.3−4.8). Water quality parameters did not significantly affect the stability of DOM-metal complexes. We demonstrated that the metal-binding patterns of DOM in interstitial water from oligotrophic lakes are highly dependent on microbial DOM composition and are affected by anthropogenic perturbations to a lesser extent.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be provided on the request.

References

  • Abd Elnabi MK, Elkaliny NE, Elyazied MM, Azab SH, Elkhalifa SA, Elmasry S, Mouhamed MS, Shalamesh EM, Alhorieny NA, Abd Elaty AE (2023) Toxicity of heavy metals and recent advances in their removal: a review. Toxics 11:580

  • Bao Y, Huang T, Ning C, Sun T, Tao P, Wang J, Sun Q (2023) Changes of DOM and its correlation with internal nutrient release during cyanobacterial growth and decline in Lake Chaohu, China. J Environ Sci 124:769–781

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Zhuang W-E, Yang L (2022) Critical evaluation of the interaction between fluorescent dissolved organic matter and Pb(II) under variable environmental conditions. Chemosphere 307:135875

  • Chen M, Kim JH, Nam SI, Niessen F, Hong WL, Kang MH, Hur J (2016) Production of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in Arctic Ocean sediments. Sci Rep 6:39213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W, Gueguen C, Smith DS, Galceran J, Puy J, Companys E (2018) Metal (Pb, Cd, and Zn) Binding to Diverse Organic Matter Samples and Implications for Speciation Modeling. Environ Sci Technol 52:4163–4172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W, Habibul N, Liu X-Y, Sheng G-P, Yu H-Q (2015) FTIR and synchronous fluorescence heterospectral two-dimensional correlation analyses on the binding characteristics of copper onto dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 49:2052–2058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng L, Xue B, Yao S, Liu J (2020) Response of Cladocera fauna to environmental change based on sediments from Sheng** Lake, a Yangtze River-connected lake in China. Quat Int 536:52–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cory RM, McKnight DM (2005) Fluorescence spectroscopy reveals ubiquitous presence of oxidized and reduced quinones in dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 39:8142–8149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D'Andrilli J, Cooper WT, Foreman CM, Marshall AG (2015) An ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry index to estimate natural organic matter lability. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 29:2385–2401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Y, Li Y, Kong F, Zhang J, ** M (2020) Source, structural characteristics and ecological indication of dissolved organic matter extracted from sediments in the primary tributaries of the Dagu River. Ecol Indic 109:105776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du L, Liu Y, Hao Z, Chen M, Li L, Ren D, Wang J (2022) Fertilization regime shifts the molecular diversity and chlorine reactivity of soil dissolved organic matter from tropical croplands. Water Res 225:119106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du L, Wu D, Yang X, Xu L, Tian X, Li Y, Huang L, Liu Y (2024) Joint toxicity of cadmium (II) and microplastic leachates on wheat seed germination and seedling growth. Environ Geochem Health 46:166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esteves da Silva JCG, Machado AASC, Oliveira CJS, Pinto MSSDS (1998) Fluorescence quenching of anthropogenic fulvic acids by Cu(II), Fe(III) and UO22+. Talanta 45:1155–1165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan T, Yao X, Ren H, Ma F, Liu L, Huo X, Lin T, Zhu H, Zhang Y (2022) Multi-spectroscopic investigation of the molecular weight distribution and copper binding ability of dissolved organic matter in Dong** Lake, China. Environ Pollut 300:118931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan T, Yao X, Sun Z, Sang D, Liu L, Deng H, Zhang Y (2023) Properties and metal binding behaviors of sediment dissolved organic matter (SDOM) in lakes with different trophic states along the Yangtze River Basin: A comparison and summary. Water Res 231:119605

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Liang C, Shen G, Lv J, Wu H (2017) Spectral characteristics of dissolved organic matter in various agricultural soils throughout China. Chemosphere 176:108–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Zhu J, He A (2022) Effect of dissolved organic matter on the bioavailability and toxicity of cadmium in zebrafish larvae: Determination based on toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic processes. Water Res 226:119272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hays MD, Ryan DK, Pennell S (2004) A modified multisite stern−volmer equation for the determination of conditional stability constants and ligand concentrations of soil fulvic acid with metal ions. Anal Chem 76:848–854

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helms JR, Stubbins A, Ritchie JD, Minor EC, Kieber DJ, Mopper K (2008) Absorption spectral slopes and slope ratios as indicators of molecular weight, source, and photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter. Limnol Oceanogr 53:955–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN (2014) Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 7:60–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang T, Bravo AG, Skyllberg U, Bjorn E, Wang D, Yan H, Green NW (2018) Influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics on dissolved mercury (Hg) species composition in sediment porewater of lakes from southwest China. Water Res 146:146–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lakowicz JR (1983) Quenching of fluorescence. In: Lakowicz JR (ed) Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Springer, US, Boston, MA, pp 257–301

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Cao X, Wu P, Bu C, Ren Y, Li K (2023a) Spatio-temporal characterization of dissolved organic matter in karst rivers disturbed by acid mine drainage and its correlation with metal ions. Sci Total Environ 897:165434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Fang J, Zhu X, Spencer RGM, Álvarez-Salgado XA, Deng Y, Huang T, Yang H, Huang C (2022) Properties of sediment dissolved organic matter respond to eutrophication and interact with bacterial communities in a plateau lake. Environ Pollut 301:118996

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Lu L, Wu Y, Zhao Z, Huang C, Huang T, Yang H, Ma X, Jiang Q (2021) Investigation on depth-dependent properties and benthic effluxes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in pore water from plateau lake sediments. Ecol Ind 125:107500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Lu L, Du H (2024) Deciphering DOM-metal binding using EEM-PARAFAC: mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31:14388–14405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Zhang F, Ye Q, Wu D, Wang L, Yu Y, Deng B, Du J (2017) Composition and copper binding properties of aquatic fulvic acids in eutrophic Taihu Lake, China. Chemosphere 172:496–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Wu Z, Shao B, Tanentzap AJ, Chi J, He W, Liu Y, Wang X, Zhao Y, Tong Y (2023b) Biodegradability of algal-derived dissolved organic matter and its influence on methylmercury uptake by phytoplankton. Water Res 242:120175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, Gao H, Yu H, Song Y (2022a) Applying EEM-PARAFAC combined with moving-window 2DCOS and structural equation modeling to characterize binding properties of Cu (II) with DOM from different sources in an urbanized river. Water Res 227:119317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F, Zhuang W-E, Yang L (2022b) Comparing the Pb(II) binding with different fluorescent components of dissolved organic matter from typical sources. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29:56676–56683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Dai X, Wang M, Lan Y, Qu G, Shan Y, Ren J, Li W, Liang S, Wang Y, Liu D (2022c) Area Changes and Influencing Factors of Large Inland Lakes in Recent 20 Years: A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China. Water 14:2816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo H, Wang Q, Liu Z, Wang S, Long A, Yang Y (2020) Potential bioremediation effects of seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis on heavy metals in coastal sediment from a typical mariculture zone. Chemosphere 245:125636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohno T (2002) Fluorescence inner-filtering correction for determining the humification index of dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 36:742–746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peuravuori J, Pihlaja K (1997) Molecular size distribution and spectroscopic properties of aquatic humic substances. Anal Chim Acta 337:133–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren H, Fan T, Yao X, Ma F, Liu L, Ming J, Wang S, Zhang Y, Deng H (2022) Investigation of the variations in dissolved organic matter properties and complexations with two typical heavy metals under the influence of biodegradation: a survey of an entire lake. Sci Total Environ 806:150485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren H, Ma F, Yao X, Shao K, Yang L (2020) Multi-spectroscopic investigation on the spatial distribution and copper binding ability of sediment dissolved organic matter in Nansi Lake, China. J Hydrol 591:125289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Retelletti Brogi S, Ha S-Y, Kim K, Derrien M, Lee YK, Hur J (2018) Optical and molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Arctic ice core and the underlying seawater (Cambridge Bay, Canada): implication for increased autochthonous DOM during ice melting. Sci Total Environ 627:802–811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rikta SY, Tareq SM, Uddin MK (2018) Toxic metals (Ni2+, Pb2+, Hg2+) binding affinity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from different ages municipal landfill leachate. Appl Water Sci 8:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shakil S, Tank SE, Kokelj SV, Vonk JE, Zolkos S (2020) Particulate dominance of organic carbon mobilization from thaw slumps on the Peel Plateau, NT: quantification and implications for stream systems and permafrost carbon release. Environ Res Lett 15:114019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shamsi A, Al Shahwan M, Ahamad S, Hassan MI, Ahmad F, Islam A (2020) Spectroscopic, calorimetric and molecular docking insight into the interaction of Alzheimer’s drug donepezil with human transferrin: implications of Alzheimer’s drug. J Biomol Struct Dyn 38:1094–1102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varghese AP, Neppolian B, Lakhera SK (2023) Pitfalls of using Nessler’s reagent for ammonia detection in photocatalytic nitrogen fixation studies: leveraging 1H NMR for enhanced accuracy and precision. Ind Eng Chem Res 62:12530–12537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wan L, Cao L, Song C, Cao X, Zhou Y (2023) Regulation of the nutrient cycle pathway and the microbial loop structure by different types of dissolved organic matter decomposition in lakes. Environ Sci Technol 57:297–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Li Z, Zhuang W-E, Hur J, Yang L, Wang Y (2020) Spectral and isotopic characteristics of particulate organic matter in a subtropical estuary under the influences of human disturbance. J Mar Syst 203:103264

  • Wang Y, Ren D, Li Y, Hao Z, Liu J (2024) Spatiotemporal dynamics of dissolved organic matter and disinfection by-products formation potential of Shengzhong Lake in southwest China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31:21568–21577

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y-H, Zhang P, He C, Yu J-C, Shi Q, Dahlgren RA, Spencer RGM, Yang Z-B, Wang J-J (2023) Molecular signatures of soil-derived dissolved organic matter constrained by mineral weathering. Fundam Res 3:377–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson HF, Xenopoulos MA (2009) Effects of agricultural land use on the composition of fluvial dissolved organic matter. Nat Geosci 2:37–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu D, Li M, Du L, Ren D, Wang J (2022) Straw return in paddy field alters photodegradation of organic contaminants by changing the quantity rather than the quality of water-soluble soil organic matter. Sci Total Environ 821:153371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Zou L, Guan D, Li W, Jiang H (2019a) Molecular weight-dependent spectral and metal binding properties of sediment dissolved organic matter from different origins. Sci Total Environ 665:828–835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Zou L, Guan D, Li W, Jiang H (2019b) Molecular weight-dependent spectral and metal binding properties of sediment dissolved organic matter from different origins. Sci Total Environ 665:828–835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Kang J, Shen J, Zhao S, Wang B, Zhang X, Chen Z (2021) EEM-PARAFAC characterization of dissolved organic matter and its relationship with disinfection by-products formation potential in drinking water sources of northeastern China. Sci Total Environ 774:145297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Z, Liu X, Peng J, Qu C, Chen Y, Zhang M, Liang D, Lei M, Tie B, Du H (2022) Tungsten–humic substances complexation. Carbon Res 1:11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita Y, Jaffé R (2008) Characterizing the interactions between trace metals and dissolved organic matter using excitation−emission matrix and parallel factor analysis. Environ Sci Technol 42:7374–7379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan L, Xu Z, Hu Y, Wang Y, Zhou F, Gao X, Zhu Y, Chen D (2022) Cyanobacteria bloom hazard function and preliminary application in Lake Taihu, China. Chemosphere 307:136122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Q, Wang Y-H, Zhang Z-T, Huang W-L, Li L-P, Li J, Liu J, Zheng Y, Mo J-M, Zhang W, Wang J-J (2020) Dissolved organic matter characteristics in soils of tropical legume and non-legume tree plantations. Soil Biol Biochem 148:107880

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Q, Zhang Z-T, Liu Y-C, Wang Y-H, Zhang S, He C, Shi Q, Zeng H-X, Wang J-J (2019) Spectroscopic and molecular-level characteristics of dissolved organic matter in a highly polluted urban river in South China. ACS Earth Space Chem 3:2033–2044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Liu S, Wu K, Cui J, Zhu A, Zhang Y, Mohamed CAR, Shi X (2021a) Distribution and assessment of heavy metal contents in surface sediments of the western Sunda Shelf. Mar Pollut Bull 168:112433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Liu H, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Sun Q (2020a) Characteristics and significance of dissolved organic matter in river sediments of extremely water-deficient basins: a Beiyun River case study. J Clean Prod 277:123063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P, Cao C, Wang Y-H, Yu K, Liu C, He C, Shi Q, Wang J-J (2021b) Chemodiversity of water-extractable organic matter in sediment columns of a polluted urban river in South China. Sci Total Environ 777:146127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Li B, Deng J, Qin B, Wells M, Tefsen B (2020b) Regional-scale investigation of dissolved organic matter and lead binding in a large impacted lake with a focus on environmental risk assessment. Water Res 172:115478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yu T (2014) Quantitative characterization of Cu binding potential of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sediment from Taihu Lake using multiple techniques. Front Environ Sci Eng 8:666–674

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Meng J, Chen Z, Zhou S, Zhang T, Chen Z, Liu Y, Cui J (2023) Response of dissolved organic matter to thermal stratification and environmental indication: the case of Gangnan Reservoir. Sci Total Environ 868:161615

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y, Zhao C, He C, Li P, Wang Y, Pang Y, Shi Q, He D (2022) Characterization of dissolved organic matter processing between surface sediment porewater and overlying bottom water in the Yangtze River Estuary. Water Res 215:118260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Zhang C, ** M, Ma H, Jia H (2023) Multi-scale modeling of natural organic matter–heavy metal cations interactions: aggregation and stabilization mechanisms. Water Res 238:120007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, ** Y, Liu X, Miao T, Guan Q, Yang R, Qu J (2021) Insight into interactions of heavy metals with livestock manure compost-derived dissolved organic matter using EEM-PARAFAC and 2D-FTIR-COS analyses. J Hazard Mater 420:126532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2024NSFSC0351), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41807379), and the Fundamental Research Funds of China West Normal University (21E035).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, China

    Yanmei Liu, Mengyuan Li, Dong Ren & Yunxiang Li

  2. Nanchong Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Protection and Pollution Prevention in Jialing River Basin, Nanchong, 637000, China

    Dong Ren

Authors
  1. Yanmei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mengyuan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dong Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yunxiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Y.L.: conceptualization, formal analysis, data curation, visualization, writing—review and editing, and funding acquisition. M.L.: lab experiments, methodology, visualization, and writing—original draft. DR: writing—review and editing, resources, project administration, funding acquisition, and supervision. Y.L.: review and editing, visualization, and supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yunxiang Li.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

Consent to Publish

Not applicable.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Luke Mosley

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

•Protein-like substances are the main components of DOM in the interstitial water from oligotrophic lakes.

•Tryptophan-like substances are the main ligands for complexing Cu(II) and Pb(II).

•Humic-like components regulate the stability of Cu(II)- and Pb(II)-DOM complexes.

•Anthropogenic inputs affect interstitial water quality but not DOM-metal stability.

Supplementary information

ESM 1

(DOCX 3407 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Li, M., Ren, D. et al. Spatial distribution of sediment dissolved organic matter in oligotrophic lakes and its binding characteristics with Pb(II) and Cu(II). Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 43369–43380 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34043-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34043-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation