Promotion and Mechanisms of DOM on Copper Adsorption by Suspended Sediment Particles

The adsorption of heavy metals by suspended sediment particles is a key process in the migration of heavy metals in lakes and is affected by various environmental conditions. To reveal the effects and mechanisms of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the adsorption of copper ions by suspended sediment particles, a Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption test was conducted through a laboratory simulation test. The results showed that DOM promoted the adsorption of Cu(Ⅱ) onto the suspended particles. Under the respective influences of fulvic acid and DOM extracted from the sediment of the Xiangjiang River, the adsorption percentage of Cu(Ⅱ) increased from 71.51% to 75.31% and 85.69%. Scanning electron microscope-energy spectroscopy results showed that under the influence of DOM, Cu(Ⅱ) existed inside the sediment particles after being adsorbed. The results of UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy showed that Cu(Ⅱ) and DOM were first complexed and then dissociated during the adsorption reaction. The results of fluorescent excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy combined with two-dimensional correlation analysis indicate that protein-like components promoted the adsorption of Cu(Ⅱ) onto the sediment suspended particles. In particular, tyrosine-like components played a critical role in promoting adsorption. However, humic-like components hardly promote this adsorption. This study has improved the theory of heavy metal migration in lakes and can be used as a basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in sediments.