An improved method for fluorescence analysis of dissolved organic matter in cave drip water

Abstract

An improved synchronous fluorimetric method for the determination of dissolved organic matter in cave drip water, by adding ascorbic acid, is described. The method is based on the redox reaction between ascorbic acid and the electron-withdrawing constituents in dissolved organic matter. The results show that adding ascorbic acid can quench the minor peaks, at 200–300 nm, but does not affect the intensity of the main peaks at 300–500 nm. In addition, adding ascorbic acid can maintain relatively high and constant fluorescence intensity over a wide pH range (9–4).

Keywords

drip water / synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy / ascorbic acid / pH

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