Metal Complexation Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from the Green Algae Scenedesmus acutus

This thesis aims to quantify fluorescent and binding characteristics of dissolved metals with dissolved organic matter (DOM) produced by the freshwater algae Scenedesmus acutus. The ultimate aim of this work is to assess whether current concepts and designation regarding the algal DOM are appropriate and whether the generalized binding constants for DOM used in binding models are suitable for algal DOM. The effect of exposure to toxic metals was also investigated to assess whether the binding characteristics of DOM produced by algae change under these circumstances. The knowledge derived from his work is intended to have practical applications in bioremediation, DOM tracing and metal-DOM modelling in freshwater environments with high algal-DOM inputs.