Characterisation of dissolved organic matter using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: Type-specific unique signatures and implications for reactivity

This study investigated the chemodiversity and unique signatures for dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different types of water using high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Eight freshwater hydrophobic DOM (HPO) share 10–17% formulas that were mainly lignin-like compounds. Unique signatures were synthesized: unique to the high-humic HPO (Suwannee River and Blavet River) were condensed aromatic and some aliphatic compounds with H/C > 1.5 and O/C 1.0). Effluent HPO was mainly aliphatic molecules with 0.2