Kong, Y.; Wang, J.; Zhu, X.; Chen, Y.; Wang, Z.; Tao, T., and Zuo, Y., 2019. Characterization of copper complexation with dissolved organic matter (DOM) in urban lakes of Wuhan, China. In: Guido-Aldana, P.A. and Mulahasan, S. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources and Exploration. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 93, pp. 241–249. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The Great East Lake Ecological Water-net Project has been launched to connect six lakes in Wuhan City with Changjiang River. Cu(II) was selected to investigate the transfer ability of metal ions among the six lakes. The complexation of Cu(II) with dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the lakes was analyzed by fluorescence quenching experiments. Three-dimensional excitation emission matrix (3DEEM) fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis was employed to comparatively characterize the structural properties and Cu(II)-binding behavior of DOMs. Two protein-like components (C1, tryptophan and C2, tyrosine) and one humic-like component (C3) were identified by PARAFAC analysis. The protein-like components of DOMs played a predominant role in copper complexation. The conditional stability constants (log Kc) for DOMs with Cu(II) ranged from 5.67 to 6.18. The water transfer project probably affects the accumulation or release of metal ions in the eastern route of water transfer. This findings show the potential effect of water transfer project on the transfer of metal ions in the connected lakes.