Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Ken Overway

Second Advisor

Ellen Mitchell

Third Advisor

Tim Kreps

Degree Award Date

Spring 5-2-2026

Keywords

chemometric, fluorescence, DOM, environmental, water quality

Disciplines

Analytical Chemistry | Environmental Chemistry | Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

Univariate spectroscopic techniques have been utilized to measure dissolved organic matter (DOM), but challenges arise in the separation and characterization due to similarities in chemical structures and spectral overlap. Multivariate techniques utilize a combination of known analytes with their unique excitation and emission spectra from fluorescence measurements to quantify amount of each analyte present in the mixture using parallel factor analysis. Tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine are common amino acids found in environmental samples and can be quantified due to their intrinsic fluorescence qualities. These amino acids can be utilized to estimate the amount of DOM in a sample since proteins and peptides comprise a significant portion of DOM. Successful computational models have been developed for tryptophan and tyrosine to determine these concentrations within environmental samples from the North River in Bridgewater, VA. An attempt to quantify phenylalanine was unsuccessful. Additionally, humification index and biological index were calculated from fallen leaf samples to better understand the process of dissolved organic matter released in a water source.

Force Open Access

1

Additional Files
honors defense presentation.pptx (4278 kB)
Defense PowerPoint
HonorsDefense_SignatoryDoc.pdf (30 kB)
Defense Committee Signatures
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