Pioneering studies by Valentine provided early kinetic results that used carbon monoxide (CO) production to evaluate the photodecomposition of aquatic natural organic matter (NOM) . (ES&T 1993 27 409-412).   Comparatively few kinetic studies have been conducted of the photodegradation of terrestrial NOM.  Here we examined the wavelength dependence of CO photoproduction from the dry plant litter (dead organic matter) derived from several plant species of the Brazilian Cerrado.  Using polychromatic UV and visible radiation with a series of cutoff filters, as originally described by Rundel (Physiol. Plant. 1986, 58, 360-366), we determined action spectra for the photoproduction.  The action spectra, which were similar to those measured by Valentine, indicated that the UV component of sunlight is primarily responsible for litter photodegradation to CO. We used the action spectra and modeled solar spectral irradiance to estimate litter photodegradation rates as a function of time and location.

Photoproduction of carbon monoxide from natural organic matter

248th National Meeting (2014)

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