Preliminary results on low molecular weight organic substances dissolved in the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk

The content of low molecular weight LMW (<1000 Da) dissolved organic substances was determined by ultrafiltration (concentration factor of 2) in different water samples collected in the Gulf of Gdańsk. The proportion of this fraction (based on organic carbon concentration) ranged from 24 to 57%. The lowest percentage was detected in riverine samples. The DOC concentrations in ultrafiltrates was similar in all the samples analysed. The absorbance proportion (at 250 nm) due to the low molecular fraction in the overall absorbance ranged from 14 to 45% and in all but one sample was lower than the DOC percentage. There was no relationship between DOC and absorbance in the LMW fractions (r2 = 0.08), in contrast to the characteristics of the "bulk" samples (r2 = 0.88).