Kitiyot Tungsudjawong, Suchat Leungprasert, and Panitan Jutaporn

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2021.162

pp. 1244 - 1251

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate spatial and seasonal changes in natural organic matter (NOM) in Bangkhen Water
Treatment Plant, Thailand. Water samples were analyzed for UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV₂₅₄), dissolved organic carbon
(DOC), and fluorescence excitation−emission matrix (EEM) with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). DOC concentrations of
the raw water in wet and dry seasons were in the range of 4.01-5.75 and 2.34-4.97 mg-C/L, respectively. Fluorescence character
of the water samples could be represented by five PARAFAC components, including terrestrial humic-like (C1 and C2),
microbial humic-like (C3), microbial protein-like (C4), and fulvic-like (C5) components. Component C2 significantly correlated
to DOC and UV₂₅₄ (R²=0.73-0.88, p<0.01). Coagulation had preferential removal for humic-like materials (C1 and C2). Overall,
the results demonstrate that tracking NOM using EEM was more sensitive than UV₂₅₄ or DOC, which benefits WTP in term of
adjusting their processes for better water supply quality.