S30 - Fluorescence and Fluorescence Anisotropy of Filtered Natural Water Samples from South Carolina

Sunday, October 5, 2025

7:15 PM - 9:15 PM EDT

Location: Ballroom C

Presenting Author(s)

CT

Callum E. Twining

Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, United States

Non-Presenting Author(s)

PW

Paige K. Williams

Graduate Student
University of South Caarolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Project Lead(s)

MM

Michael L. Myrick

Primary Investigator
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Non-Presenting Author(s)

ws

whitney schuler

Graduate Student
UofSC Department of Chemistry
columbia, South Carolina, United States

Submitter(s)

CT

Callum E. Twining

Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, United States

In fifteen words or less, explain the significance of this contribution (Novel Aspect).:

Natural water samples were found to contain environmental fluorophores presenting broad, featureless, nonzero fluorescence anisotropy

Abstract Text: Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) represents the fraction of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) present in an ecosystem that fluoresces under a particular wavelength of light. CDOM is typically divided into humic acid-like and protein-like subgroups, both of which contain chemical species that fluoresce. The numerous chemical species contribute to a fluorescence profile that is broad and relatively featureless. We report fluorescence emission, fluorescence excitation, and fluorescence anisotropy measurements of filtered natural water samples in the long-wave UV and Visible regions. Across numerous samples from different watersheds we report a featureless, but nonzero, fluorescence anisotropy. Additionally, we attempt to classify the chemical species within FDOM that would result in this polarization.