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The interaction of microcroplastics (MP) with dissolved organic matter, especially humic substances, is of great importance in understanding the behavior of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Surface modification by humic substances plays an essential role in transport and interaction of MP with abiotic and biotic components. Previous studies on the interaction between MP and humic substances were largely based on a model compound, humic acid (Sigma-Aldrich). In our work, we therefore investigated the interaction of natural organic matter (NOM) sampled from a German surface water with low-density polyethylene particles (LDPE). Highpressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the incubation solutions after modifications due to the presence of LDPE, and Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the incubated microplastics. While the studies of the solutions generally showed only very small effects, Raman spectroscopic studies allowed clear evidence of the binding of humic fractions to MP. The comparison of the incubation of NOM and a lignite fulvic acid which also was tested further showed that specific signatures of the humic substances used could be detected by Raman spectroscopy. This provides an elegant opportunity to conduct broader studies on this issue in the future.
UV-induced transformation of dissolved
organic matter (DOC) is often accompanied by reduction
of molecular weight and aromaticity and an increase of
low-molecular weight (LMW) matter that can be utilized as
a substrate by heterotrophic bacteria. Moreover, the generation
of reactive transients and mineralization of DOC
occurs. For a better understanding of the modification that
starts after irradiation and to distinguish between possible
chemical and biological modifications, we selected different
natural organic matter (NOM) from Norway and
Germany. The aqueous solutions were treated by UV
irradiation and divided into two aliquot samples. NaN3
anti-bacterial treatment was applied to one sample, and
high-pressure size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC)
analysis was used for both. In all samples, we found typical
modifications of NOM after UV irradiation. Incubation
(>7 days) of UV-irradiated NOM samples resulted in
lower levels of LMW matter and increased aromaticity.
Parallel to these changes of carbon fractions, an increase in
bacterial cell numbers was observed. Addition of NaN3 to
NOM, however, inhibited the reduction of LMW matter,
indicating that microbial activity accounted for the
observed changes in NOM. Analysis of the bacterial
community composition by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis
(DGGE) of the amplified 16S rRNA genes
revealed that bacterial communities of non-irradiated and
UV-irradiated NOM were different and that UV selected
for specific members of α-proteobacteria, β-proteobacteria,
and Bacteriodetes. Our results imply that after UV-irradiation
of NOM, specific bacterial members are well adapted
to low pH, high LMW DOC concentrations, and oxidative
stress, and therefore thrive well on UV-irradiated humic
matter.