Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantification of refractory organic substances in freshwaters: further insight into the response of the voltammetric method

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A recently published method for quantifying refractory organic matter (often referred to as humic substances) in freshwaters was applied to a wide range of International Humic Substance Society (IHSS) humic compounds in order to (i) gain a better understanding of the mechanism of the voltammetric response which is the basis of the analytical method and (ii) provide guidance on choosing the optimal standard to be used. At the same time, the sensitivity of the technique has been increased by switching from the pulse mode initially proposed to the square-wave mode. The results obtained show that (i) differences in adsorption onto the electrode rather than differences in complexation strength are responsible for the differences in the intensity of the signal obtained for the different humic compounds, (ii) carboxylate, N- and S-containing groups do not play a role in the voltammetric signal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Filella M (2008) Environ Chem Lett. doi:10.1007/s10311-008-0158-x

  2. Abbt-Braun G, Lankes U, Frimmel FH (2004) Aquat Sci 66:151–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Weishaar JL, Aiken GR, Bergamaschi BA, Fram MS, Fujii R, Mopper K (2003) Environ Sci Technol 37:4702–4708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Baron J, McKnight D, Denning AS (1991) Biogeochemistry 15:89–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McKnight DM, Aiken GR, Smith RL (1991) Limnol Oceanogr 36:998–1006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. McKnight DM, Bencala KE, Zellweger GW, Aiken GR, Feder GL, Thorn KA (1992) Environ Sci Technol 26:1388–1396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. McKnight DM, Andrews ED, Spulding SA, Aiken GR (1994) Limnol Oceanogr 39:1972–1979

    Google Scholar 

  8. McKnight DM, Harnish R, Wershaw RL, Baron JS, Schiff S (1997) Biogeochemistry 36:99–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Volk CJ, Volk CB, Kaplan LA (1997) Limnol Oceanogr 42:39–44

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. van Zomeren A, Comans RNJ (2007) Environ Sci Technol 41:6755–6761

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wu FC, Evans RD, Dillon PJ, Cai YR (2007) Appl Geochem 22:1598–1605

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chanudet V, Filella M, Quentel F (2006) Anal Chim Acta 569:244–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chanudet V, Filella M (2007) Org Geochem 38:1146–1160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Filella M, Chanudet V, Quentel F (2008) Freshwaters: do ‘humics’ always represent 50% of NOM? In: Perminova IV, Kulikova NA (eds) Proceedings of the 14th International Meeting of the International Humic Substances Society, September 14–19, 2008, Moscow–Saint Petersburg, Russia, Humus Sapiens, Moscow, 2008, pp 151–154

  15. Aiken GR (1985) Geochemistry and isolation. In: Aiken GR, McKnight DM, Wershaw RL, MacCarthy P (eds) Humic substances in soil, sediment and water. Wiley-Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  16. Thurman EM, Malcolm RL (1981) Environ Sci Technol 15:463–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Serkiz SM, Perdue EM (1990) Water Res 24:911–916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Swift RS (1996) In: Sparks DL (ed) Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society America, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 1011–1069

  19. Quentel F, Elleouet C (2001) Electroanalysis 13:1030–1035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kolthoff IM, Lingane JJ (1952) Polarography, vol 1. Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Limousin G, Gaudet JP, Charlet L, Szenknect S, Barthès V, Krimissa M (2007) Appl Geochem 22:249–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Thomas Meinelt (Leibniz-Institut of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany) for the gift of HS1500.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, UMR-CNRS 6521, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 Avenue V. Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France

    François Quentel

  2. Department of Inorganic, Analytical and Applied Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland

    Montserrat Filella

Authors
  1. François Quentel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Montserrat Filella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Montserrat Filella.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Quentel, F., Filella, M. Quantification of refractory organic substances in freshwaters: further insight into the response of the voltammetric method. Anal Bioanal Chem 392, 1225–1230 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2366-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2366-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation