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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
Published on: January 7, 2019
Assimilable organic carbon in molecular weight fractions of natural organic matter
1Aquateam-Norwegian Water Technology Centre A/S, Oslo. lars.hem@aquateam.no
Abstract:
Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) in natural organic matter (NOM) has been measured in three Norwegian waters. The AOC measurement has been done on unfiltered and membrane-filtered (molecular weight (MW) cut-off of 1000 and 10,000) samples. While the colour in the waters is mainly related to the NOM with MW > 10,000, the AOC was mainly related to the NOM with MW < 1000. The fraction of the NOM with MW < 1000 corresponds to 16-38% of the total organic carbon (TOC), and 4-9% of the colour. This shows that a water treatment process removing the colour and a large part of the TOC in the water will not necessarily result in a reduction in the biofilm formation potential.
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