Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
Published on: January 7, 2019
Redox Conditions Affect Dissolved Organic Carbon Quality in Stratified Freshwaters
Tallent Dadi1, Mourad Harir2, Norbert Hertkorn2
1UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research , Department of Lake Research, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany.
Abstract:
The quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) affects both carbon cycling in surface waters and drinking water production. Not much is known about the influence of environmental conditions on DOC quality. We studied the effect of redox conditions on the chemical composition of DOC in a drinking water reservoir by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in combination with sediment core incubation experiments under manipulated redox conditions. We observed clear differences in DOC quality among oxic epilimnion, anoxic hypolimnion, and sediment porewater. Sediment porewater showed relatively high intensities of polyphenol-like components with H/C ratios of <1 and O/C ratios of >0.6. Consistent with this, anoxic incubation of a sediment core resulted in an accumulation of these components in the overlying water. The observed pattern of DOC quality change can be explained by redox-dependent adsorption/desorption of DOC on iron minerals. Under oxic conditions, the polyphenol-like components bind on freshly formed iron hydroxides, a process that affects both DOC stability in surface waters and treatability during drinking water production.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Redox Equilibria: Overview
Redox Reactions
Redox Reactions
Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
Balancing Redox Equations
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...

