Organic matter and pH affect the analysis efficiency of (31)P-NMR

Solution (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-NMR) is a useful method to analyze organic phosphorus (Po), but a general procedure for the analysis method is lacking. The authors used solution (31)P-NMR, which was found to be an effective method for analysis of Po in Haihe River sediment, to analyze the Po in the surface sediment in Eastern China at the regional scale, and found that the NaOH-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) extraction rate was affected by environmental factors. At the regional scale, the extraction rate showed a positive relationship with loss on ignition, when the extraction rate was lower than 60%. The extraction rate had no relationship with the loss on ignition when the extraction rate was higher than 60%. The extraction rate showed a negative relationship with pH, which means that the extraction rate was higher in acidic sediment and lower in alkaline sediment. The ratio of TC/TN (the ratio of total carbon to total nitrogen) was considered to represent the origin of organic matter in the sediment. The extraction rate was high when the TC/TN ratio was lower than 20, meanwhile the extraction rate decreased as the TC/TN ratio increased. The results show that the origin of organic matter in sediment significantly affects the NaOH-EDTA extraction rate. This study will give theoretical support for building an effective and general solution (31)P-NMR analysis method.