Jun-wei Zhao; Shuang-bing Huang; Zhao-xin Su; Wei-chao Huang; Yong Qian

doi:10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280072

doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280072

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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2025-04-28
- 录用日期: 2025-09-25
- 网络出版日期: 2025-11-24
- 刊出日期: 2026-03-15

Geographical differentiation of riverine DOM composition and source apportionment: A case study of a riverine network of a mountainous stream, a Plain River, and an artificial canal

1.
Hubei Key Laboratory of Petroleum Geochemistry and Environment and School of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Groundwater Remediation of Hebei Province and China Geological Survey, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
3.
Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China

More Information

Corresponding author: huangsb@yangtzeu.edu.cn; desertqy@163.com

摘要

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Abstract: To elucidate the geographical differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in typical rivers, this study conducted a multi-spectral investigation on three representative river types within Shandong Province: The mountainous Dawen River, the plain Tuhai River, and the artificial East Grand Canal. The DOM composition was analyzed using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Excitation-Emission Matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to quantify the synergistic effects of natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in DOM composition and sources. The plain river exhibited the highest aromaticity (humic-like components: 43.3%) due to long-term agricultural non-point source inputs and urban wastewater discharge. The mountain stream, shaped by complex terrain and relatively intact ecosystems, was dominated by autochthonous DOM derived from microbial metabolism, with higher Fluorescence Index (FI = 2.12) and biological index (BIX = 1.35) than other river types. The artificial canal retained protein-like components (64.2%), largely attributed to winter hydrological stagnation and disturbances from shipping activities. Further analysis demonstrated that geographical settings (e.g., mountain terrain) and anthropogenic activities (e.g., agriculture, shipping) jointly regulated DOM composition by altering the balance between input and transformation processes. Integrated fluorescence parameters and PCA results suggested differentiated management strategies: protecting ecological integrity in mountain streams to sustain self-purification, enhancing non-point source interception in plain rivers, and mitigating shipping pollution in canals. This study systematically reveals the natural-anthropogenic coupling mechanisms driving DOM dynamics in northern China rivers, providing critical insights for precision water environment management at the watershed scale.
- Dissolved organic matter (DOM) /
- UV-Vis spectroscopy /
- Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) /
- Geographical settings /
- Anthropogenic activities

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Figure 1. The sampling sites of the three types of rivers in the study area

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Figure 2. UV–Vis s spectral parameters of DOM in the three types of waters

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Figure 3. Typical Fluorescence spectral parameters of DOM in the three types of waters

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Figure 4. The PARAFAC fluorescence components of DOM and the split-half analysis results

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Figure 5. Fluorescence intensity and percentage of PARAFAC components

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Figure 6. PCA of DOM indices: (a) Mountain stream, (b) Artificial canal, and (c) Plain river.

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Table 1. Physicochemical parameters of river water bodies

Type	pH	ORP (mV)	DOC (mg/L)
Mountain stream	8.88±0.42	40.02±12.93	13.89±1.81
Artificial canal	8.44±0.45	60.02±10.73	15.10±5.66
Plain river	8.80±0.30	55.07±9.93	13.02±5.19

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Table 2. Characteristics of DOM fluorescent components

Components in this study	λ_Ex/λ_Em (nm)	Compound type	Components in previous studies
C1	<250(320)/400	Humic-like	250(325) /400–425 nm (Liu et al. 2023); 245 (320)/442 nm (Yang et al. 2024)
C2	255(350)/445	Fulvic acid	(240–260)/(379–457) nm (Marcé et al. 2021); 250 (355)/461 nm (Ouyang et al. 2025)
C3	270/320	Tyrosine-like	275/312 nm (Yang et al. 2024); 275/325 nm (Ren et al. 2021)
C4	285/350	Tryptophan-like	290/345 nm (Ren et al. 2021); (275–290)/(305–351) nm (Ouyang et al. 2025)
C5	<250/370	Tryptophan-like	<250/338–370 nm (Marcé et al. 2021)

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