Molecular characterisation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in ground waters from the Aspo underground research laboratory, Sweden : a novel "finger printing" tool for palaeohydrological assessment

Vane, Christopher Howard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640; Kim, Alexander; Milodowski, Antoni; Smellie, J.; Tullborg, E.L.; West, Julia. 2008 Molecular characterisation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in ground waters from the Aspo underground research laboratory, Sweden : a novel "finger printing" tool for palaeohydrological assessment. In: Scientific basis for nuclear waste management, Sheffield, England, 2007. USA, Materials Research Society, 557-565.

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Abstract/Summary

The molecular signature of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in groundwaters can be used as a tool when investigating the palaeohydrological response of groundwater systems in relation to changes in recharge environment, and also for examining groundwater compartmentalisation, mixing and transport at underground repositories for radioactive waste. The DOM in groundwaters from two compartmentalised bodies of groundwater of distinctly different origin within the Äspö Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Sweden and in Baltic seawater has been isolated using tangential flow ultrafiltration (TUF) and diafiltration. Recoveries of DOM ranged from 34.7 to 0.1 mg/L with substantial differences in the concentrations of the groundwaters collected only 120 m apart. Analysis by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and pyrolysisgas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) of the isolated DOM revealed that the groundwaters contained abundant alkylphenols which may represent heavily decomposed proteins or lignins originating from biopolymers contained within soils. The difference in the distribution and relative abundance of major pyrolysis products groups such as alkyphenols confirmed that the groundwater and Baltic seawater DOM samples were chemically distinct indicating minimal infiltration of marine groundwater derived by recharge from the Baltic or earlier Littorina Sea within the two compartmentalised groundwater bodies.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Paper)
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2008 > Groundwater resources
Additional Keywords:	Groundwater, Hydrology, Organic matter, Sweden
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	26 Sep 2008 10:48 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/4429

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