3.2. Effect of UV-mediated processes on fluorescence
Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) can be used to provide a “fingerprint” of the organic compounds in water and wastewater.
The peaks can be allocated to the different types of compounds according to Chen et al. [29]. The high concentration of humic matter in the secondary effluent is shown as the two large peaks in region V (humic acid-like matter, Yex/Xem = 345/430 nm)
and region III (fulvic acid-like matter, Yex/Xem = 245/420 nm); minor
peaks are apparent in the regions for aromatic protein II and soluble
microbial products (SMPs) (Fig. 3).