Dissolved organic matter (DOM) constitutes the largest organic carbon (OC) pool in aquatic environments, and its behavior exemplifies a key role in greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon-climate feedback. However, studies on understanding the process of DOM degradation in different natural waters remain relatively scattered. In this study, the UV-induced photodegradation properties of DOM from different origins (i.e., pond, river, and lake) were investigated through a photochemical degradation experiment under simulated irradiation conditions. Later, the changes in absorbance rate at 254 nm (UV254) and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured to evaluate the degradation process and its removal efficiency across different water bodies. Results showed that, in the presence of UV254, degradation, irrespective of DOM origin, followed a similar trend over the period of light exposure, as absorbance in all water bodies gradually decreased. Compared to the various water bodies, lake water had a higher overall removal efficacy, whereas pond and river water were relatively lower. The addition of TiO2 as a catalyst enhanced the removal efficiency in all samples, with pond water showing the most noticeable enhancement. In addition, over prolonged light exposure, the removal efficiency gradually approached that of lake water, indicating that photocatalysis can promote DOM degradation effectively. The study conducted parallel experiments to ensure the reliability of the degradation patterns of DOM from different origins under light and photocatalytic conditions, to understand further the transformation of photochemical and organic matter in water, and to extend it to pollution control in water bodies.

Sophia Jiayun Cui, Xinyue Jiang. Comparison of dissolved organic matter in different environmental water bodies. Academic Journal of Environment & Earth Science (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 130-137. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJEE.2026.080117.

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