Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Sampling and Identification of Microplastics in Groundwater
Published on: November 7, 2025
Characteristics of suspended matter in the River Sava watershed, Slovenia
Tjasa Kanduc1, Nives Ogrinc, Tanja Mrak
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia. tjasa.kanduc@gmail.com
Abstract:
A combination of C/N ratios, delta(13)C and delta(15)N values in suspended matter was used to examine the seasonal (late summer 2004 and spring 2005) relationship with hydrological characteristics of the River Sava watershed in Slovenia. The values of C/N ratios range from 1.2 to 19.1, delta(13)C values range from-29.2 to-23.0 per thousand and delta(15)N values from 0.5 to 16.7 per thousand and indicate that the samples are a mixture of two end members: modern soils and plant litter. A simple mixing model was used to indicate that soil organic carbon prevails over plant litter and contributes more than 50% of suspended material. The calculated annual particulate organic carbon flux is estimated as 5.2x10(10) g C/year, the annual particulate nitrogen flux 8.5x10(9) g N/year and the total suspended solid flux is estimated to be 1.3x10(12) g/year. Anthropogenic impact was detected only in a tributary stream of the River Sava, which is located in an agriculture-industrial area and is reflected in higher delta(15)N values in suspended matter and high nitrate concentrations in the late summer season.
Related Concept Videos
Quality of Water
Colloids and Suspensions
Freshwater Microbial Ecology
Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
Typical Model Studies
Gravimetry: Inorganic And Organic Precipitating Agents

