USE OF GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY TO CHARACTERIZE THE CHANGES IN NATURAL ORGANIC MATTER THROUGH OXIDATIVE TREATMENTS

摘要

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in combination with ultraviolet (UV) and sensitive dissolved organic carbon (DOC) detection was used to investigate the structural changes caused by ozonation and chlorination. Oxidation processes were applied to a fulvic acid (HO10FA) sample which was extracted from Hohloh Lake, Germany. Biological degradation by means of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) of the FA sample was monitored by GPC elution diagrams. It is shown that ozonation and subsequent chlorination result in partial decomposition of the high-molecular-mass components of FA to low-molecular-mass hydrophilic compounds which are more biodegradable by microorganisms.