The Influence of Types and Chemical Properties of Organic Matter in Water on Water Quality

In nature, water is the source of life, an indispensable substance for the survival of all organisms on Earth. However, due to the impact of human activities, water pollution problems are becoming increasingly serious, among which organic matter pollution is particularly prominent. Organic matter has a wide variety of types and different chemical properties, and its impact on water quality also shows diversity. This article will discuss the types, chemical properties, and impact on water quality of organic matter from three aspects.

I. Types of Organic Matter

Organic matter is widely existing in nature, with a wide variety of types, mainly including natural organic matter and artificial organic matter. Natural organic matter mainly includes the remains of animals and plants, microorganisms, humus, and so on, while artificial organic matter includes industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater, agricultural pollution, and so on.

Natural Organic Matter: In the natural environment, the main components of natural organic matter include the remains of animals and plants, microorganisms, humus, and so on. These substances dissolve or suspend in water, with relatively small impact on water quality. However, when these substances accumulate in water bodies, they may have certain effects on water bodies, such as changing the chemical composition of water bodies, affecting the physical properties of water bodies, such as color, transparency, and so on.

Artificial organic matter: With the acceleration of the industrialization process, the impact of human activities on the environment is increasing, and industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater, agricultural pollution, etc. have become the main sources of water pollution. These pollutants contain a large number of artificial organic matter, such as phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, etc. These organic matter are not only diverse in types but also have different chemical properties, and their degree of pollution to water bodies also varies.

Second, the chemical properties of organic matter

The chemical properties of organic matter determine its form of existence, migration characteristics, and impact on water quality. The chemical properties of organic matter mainly include molecular structure, polarity, solubility, redox properties, etc.

Molecular structure: The molecular structure of organic matter determines its solubility, adsorption, and other properties in water. Generally, organic matter with stronger polarity is more easily dissolved in water, while non-polar organic matter is more likely to adsorb and deposit in water bodies. In addition, the molecular structure of organic matter also determines its toxicity to microorganisms, affecting the balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Polarity: Organic matter with stronger polarity is more easily dissolved in water, while non-polar organic matter is more likely to adsorb and deposit in water bodies. Therefore, organic matter with stronger polarity has a relatively higher degree of pollution to water bodies, and has a more significant impact on aquatic organisms.

Solubility: The solubility of organic matter is closely related to its chemical properties. Generally, organic matter with stronger polarity has higher solubility in water, while non-polar organic matter is more likely to adsorb and deposit in water bodies. Organic matter with higher solubility is more likely to pollute water bodies, while adsorbed and deposited organic matter may accumulate in water bodies for a long time, affecting the balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Redox properties: The redox properties of organic matter determine its migration characteristics in water bodies. Generally speaking, organic matter with stronger redox properties is more easily degraded by microorganisms in water bodies, while organic matter with weaker redox properties is more likely to accumulate in water bodies, affecting the balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Third, the impact of organic matter on water quality

The impact of organic matter on water quality mainly manifests in the following aspects:

Changes in water quality indicators: The types and concentrations of organic matter can affect water quality indicators in water bodies, such as COD, BOD, TOC, etc., thereby affecting the value of water bodies for use.

Biotoxicity: The toxicity of organic matter has an impact on aquatic organisms such as fish and plankton, affecting the balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Reduction in the self-purification capacity of water bodies: The accumulation of organic matter reduces the self-purification capacity of water bodies, making it difficult for them to recover to their original clean state.

Changes in the sensory characteristics of water bodies: The accumulation of organic matter can lead to changes in the sensory characteristics of water bodies, such as color and odor, affecting the value of water bodies for use.

In summary, the diversity of organic matter types and chemical properties determines the complexity of their impact on water quality. Therefore, we need to strengthen the research on organic pollution, take effective measures to reduce the discharge of organic matter, protect the water environment, and maintain ecological balance. At the same time, strengthen water quality monitoring, timely detection and treatment of water pollution problems, to ensure the sustainable use of water resources.