Photodegradation of dissolved organic matter of chicken manure: Property changes and effects on Zn2+/Cu2+ binding property

Abstract

Untreated livestock manure contains high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which can enter the environment through leaching and eluviation, showing an important impact on the environment. In this research, fresh chicken manure from a large-scale chicken farm was collected as the source of DOM. The infrared spectrum of the original DOM was characterized. TOC analysis, UV spectrum and 3D fluorescence spectrum were used to measure the properties of DOM before and after photodegradation. Infrared spectroscopy results show that chicken manure DOM may contain aliphatic and aromatic compounds, alcohols, phenols, polysaccharides and some protein substances; In three systems, the order of TOC removal rates of DOM was water + UV system (85%) > > water + simulated sunlight system (7.2%) > ice + simulated sunlight system (4.5%); Changes of UV spectra, fluorescence spectra, molecular weight distribution and pH value show that, in three systems, as the illumination time increased, photodegradation reduced pH value of the systems, aromaticity and humus contents of DOM, while increased the proportion of medium and/or small molecular weight components of DOM. The amounts of all these changes were proportional to DOM photodegradation rates in the system. The binding ability of DOM with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in water solution decreased significantly after the photodegradation.

Keywords: Bioavailability; Chicken manure; Cu(2+); Dissolved organic matter; Photodegradation; Zn(2+).