Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a class of organic mixtures commonly found in natural water bodies with complex structures and diverse sources, which are closely related to the structure and function of the water body environment. Given the declining quality and quantity of lake waters in China, studying the dynamic degradation/change processes of DOM in lakes is essential to understand and manage the ecological health of these water bodies. In this experiment, by conducting photocatalytic experiments of DOM, we analyzed and compared the changes of absorbance and DOC concentration of different kinds of urban wastewater water samples with time, and the results showed that the degradation efficiencies of DOC were in the order of domestic wastewater>farming wastewater>industrial wastewater from the largest to the smallest, and the degradation efficiencies of the light-absorbable substances at the wavelength of 254 nm were farming wastewater>industrial wastewater>domestic wastewater. This study not only explored the photo-degradation process of DOM in urban wastewater, but also provided a scientific basis for wastewater treatment and management, with a view to optimizing the wastewater treatment process, improving the level of water quality management and reducing the impact of harmful pollutants on the environment.
