Characterization of natural organic matter in low-carbon sediments: Extraction and analytical approaches

Fox, Patricia M.; Nico, Peter S.; Tfaily, Malak M.; Heckman, Katherine; Davis, James A.

doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.08.009

Title: Characterization of natural organic matter in low-carbon sediments: Extraction and analytical approaches

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Organic Geochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.08.009· OSTI ID:1439700

Fox, Patricia M.; Nico, Peter S.; Tfaily, Malak M.; Heckman, Katherine; Davis, James A.

Sediment-associated natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex assemblage of organic molecules with a wide range of sizes, functional groups, and structures, which is intricately associated with mineral particles. Organic carbon (OC) concentrations in subsurface sediments are typically 10 to 200 times lower than in surface soils, posing a distinct challenge for characterization. A range of chemical extractions were evaluated for extraction of NOM, and a NOM extraction scheme was developed using a combination of sequential extraction with water (MQ) and sodium pyrophosphate at pH 10 (PP), and purification by dialysis and solid phase extraction in order to isolate different fractions of sediment-associated NOM. Analysis of these different NOM fractions was then carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The OC extraction efficiency of the tested extractions followed the order PP>NaOH>HCl=hydroxylamine hydrochloride>dithionite. Greater concentrations of OC in PP vs NaOH extracts suggest that metal complexation and/or ligand exchange plays an important role in OC stabilization. Characterization of different pools of extraction NOM by FITR shows that the water soluble fraction has a higher fraction of aliphatic and carboxylic groups, while the PP fractions have higher C=C groups. This trend from aliphatic to more aromatic is also supported by the UV-Vis and ESI-FTICR-MS data.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1439700

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-123194; 48252; 48046; KP1704020

Journal Information:: Organic Geochemistry, Vol. 114, Issue C; ISSN 0146-6380

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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