Abstract
Fluorescence spectra of 4 river waters at 36 points in Kanagawa prefecture were measured to investigate the possibility as a predictor of COD, MBAS, nitrate and phosphorous compounds. The river waters showed a highly significant correlation statistically between fluorescence and COD. Correlation of fluorescence with MBAS, T-N, NH3-N, Org-N, T-P and PO4-P were also found to be very good. The results showed that fluorescence could be used as a predictor of COD and the other 6 pollutants.
From the reason that high correlation existed between fluorescence and pollutants discharged by human activity, origin of fluorescence was studied focussing on fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) used in detergents, textiles and papers. Two types of FWAs, diaminostilbene disulphonic acid type and bis (sulphostyryl) diphenyl type, could be identified in river waters by using the extraction method developed in this study and thin layer chromatography. The experimental results suggested that fluorescence of FWAs comprised 5070% of that observed in river waters.
