A comparison of methods for the extraction of dissolved organic matter from freshwaters

Studies of dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition have used several different methods to concentrate and extract the DOM from fresh water, but the impact of these methods on the composition of the DOM is relatively unknown, as very few studies use more than one method to compare results. The aim of this study was to use several methods, frequently used in the scientific literature, to concentrate and extract DOM from fresh water and compare the elemental and functional group composition of the extracted DOM. In addition, the cost, in terms of money, resources and time, were assessed for each method. The results showed that the elemental and functional group composition of the extracted DOM varied between methods significantly. The methods that yielded the most similar and reproducible DOM results were rotary evaporation, dry-down at 60 °C and freeze-drying. Although each of these methods required a relatively expensive piece of laboratory equipment, this was a 'one-off' cost, and consumables and time per sample were relatively low. This study highlights the dangers of comparing DOM data from different studies when the DOM has been extracted via different methods. In future, it is recommended that studies of DOM composition report their methods of extraction clearly and consistently, ideally using one (or more) of the methods showing reliable results here.