Using molecular weight–based fluorescent detector to characterize dissolved effluent organic matter in oxidation ditch with algae

Implementation of microalgae has been considered for enhancing effluent wastewater quality. However, it can cause environmental issues due to the release of extracellular and algal organic matter in the biological process. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of dissolved effluent as algae- and bacteria-derived organic matter during the oxidation ditch process. Furthermore, experiments were conducted under three combinations filled by Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, and without microalgae. The results showed that dissolved effluent organic matter was more aromatic and hydrophobic than before treatment. Fluorescence spectroscopy identified two components-aromatic protein-like and soluble microbial product-like components-at excitation/emission of 230/345 nm and 320/345 nm after treatment, instead of fulvic acid-like at 230/420 nm and humic acid-like at 320/420 nm in raw wastewater. These components were fractionated based on the average of molecular weight cut-offs (MWCOs), and high (MWCOs 50,000 Da), medium (MWCOs 50,000-1650 Da), and low molecular weights (MWCOs 1650 Da) were reported. Biological oxidation ditch under symbiosis algal bacteria generated humic and fulvic acid with a higher MWCOs than the process without algal. The quality and quantity of dissolved effluent organic matter in an oxidation ditch reactor were significantly affected by algal-bacteria symbiotic.