Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Waters of Lomé Lagoon System (Togo)

The aims of study is to distinguish the different origins of dissolved organic matter and emphasizes the spatial variations of dissolved organic matter quality in Lome lagoon system composed by three lakes and Equilibrium canal. The results showed that, the three lakes of Lome are dominated by biological dissolved organic matter (HIX < 4) except the site O11 (HIX = 5.75) with high biological activity (BIX included between 0.8 and 1). This high biological activity could due to the water contribution from north plateau and offshore bar. Apart from O11 and C4 the information brought by the ratio Iγ/Iα shows that the dissolved organic matter of the lagoon is autochthonous and composed by labile organic compounds. Lome lagoon system is composed in majority by humic substances with a small amount of microbial products.