Copper complexing ligands and organic matter characterization in the northern Adriatic Sea

The study on dissolved organic ligands capable to complex copper ions (LT), surface-active substances (SAS) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Northern Adriatic Sea station (ST 101) under the influence of Po River was conducted in period from 2006–2008. The acidity of surface-active organic material (Acr) was followed as well. The results are compared to temperature and salinity distributions. On that way, the contribution of the different pools of ligands capable to complex Cu ions could be determined as well as the influence of aging and transformation of the organic matter. The LT values in the investigated period were in the range of 40–300 nmol l−1. The range of DOC values for surface and bottom samples were 0.84–1.87 mg l−1 and 0.80–1.30 mg l−1, respectively. Total SAS concentrations in the bottom layer were 0.045–0.098 mg l−1 in equiv. of Triton-X-100 while those in the surface layer were 0.050–0.143 mg l−1 in equiv. of Triton-X-100. The majority of organic ligands responsible for Cu binding in surface water originate from new phytoplankton production promoted by river borne nutrients. Older, transformed organic matter, possessing higher relative acidity, is the main contributor to the pool of organic ligands that bind copper in the bottom samples. It was estimated that ∼9% of DOC in surface samples and ∼12% of DOC in the bottom samples are present as ligands capable to complex copper ions.