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Can fluorescence spectrometry be used as a surrogate for the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) test in water quality assessment? An example from South West England

Hudson, Naomi; Baker, Andy; Reynolds, Darren M.; Ward, David; Brunsdon, Chris; Carliell-Marquet, Cynthia; Browning, Simon

Authors

Naomi Hudson

Andy Baker

David Ward

Chris Brunsdon

Cynthia Carliell-Marquet

Simon Browning



Abstract

The fluorescence intensities of tryptophan-like, tyrosine-like and humic-like materials were determined using excitation-emission-matrices (EEMs) for a wide range of samples including natural surface waters, sewage and industrial effluents and waters that have experienced known pollution events from the South West of England (n = 469). Fluorescence intensities reported in arbitrary fluorescence units (AFU) were correlated with standard five day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) values which were used as an indicator of the amount of biodegradable organic material present. Tryptophan-like fluorescence, which has been found to relate to the activity of the biological community, showed the strongest correlation with BOD5. Fluorescence analysis of the tryptophan-like peak (excitation/emission wavelength region 275/340nm) is found to provide an accurate indication of the presence, and relative proportions of bioavailable organic material present (natural or anthropogenic). It therefore provides an insight relating to its oxygen depleting potential. Thus fluorescence spectroscopy is recommended as a portable or laboratory tool for the determination of the presence of biodegradable organic matter with intrinsic oxidising potential in natural waters. The novel application of Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to the data illustrates that strong local relationships exist between the two parameters and that site specific character may be a strong factor in the strength of the tryptophan-like fluorescence/BOD5 relationship. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Hudson, N., Baker, A., Reynolds, D. M., Ward, D., Brunsdon, C., Carliell-Marquet, C., & Browning, S. (2008). Can fluorescence spectrometry be used as a surrogate for the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) test in water quality assessment? An example from South West England. Science of the Total Environment, 391(1), 149-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.054

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 25, 2008
Deposit Date Nov 18, 2010
Journal Science of the Total Environment
Print ISSN 0048-9697
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 391
Issue 1
Pages 149-158
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.054
Keywords fluorescence, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), water quality, rivers
Wastewater
Geographically Weighted Regression
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1019255
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.054