A speciation methodology to study the contributions of humic-like and fulvic-like acids to the mobilization of metals from compost using size exclusion chromatography-ultraviolet absorption-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and deconvolution analysis

High performance size-exclusion chromatography (HP-SEC) with UV absorption for organic matter detection and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elemental detection have been used to study the mobilization of metals from compost as a function of pH and the molecular mass of their complexes with dissolved organic matter (DOM). Due to its heterogeneous nature, organic matter mobilized from compost shows a continuous distribution of molecular masses in the range studied (up to 80 kDa). In order to differentiate between the contribution of humic and fulvic acids (FA) to the organic matter mobilized in the pH range 5-10, their UV absorption chromatographic profiles have been deconvoluted with respect to the adjusted gaussian profiles of the humic and fulvic acids isolated from compost. Results show a preponderant contribution of fulvic acids at low pH values and an increasing percentage of humic acids (HA) mobilized at basic pH (up to 49% of total DOM at pH 10). A similar deconvolution procedure has been applied to the ICP-MS chromatograms of selected metals (Co, Cu, Pb and Bi). In general, both fulvic and humic acids contribute to the mobilization of divalent transition metals, such as copper or cobalt, whereas bismuth or lead are preferably associated to humic acids. Non-humic substances (HS) also contribute to the mobilization of cations, especially at acidic pHs. These conclusions have been extended to different elements based on deconvolution analysis results at pH 7.     

Fractionation analysis of trace metals in humic substances of soils irrigated with wastewater in Central Mexico by particle induced X-ray emission

The Mezquital Valley in Central Mexico has received wastewater from Mexico City for nearly 100 years. Wastewater brings in organic matter and nutrients but also trace metals. Humic substances, the main components of organic soil matter, are responsible for retaining and regulating the mobility of trace metals in soils. In this study, humic substances were extracted from the soil and separated into distinct fractions (humic acids, fulvic acids and humins). The particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique was applied to determine the metal content in bulk soil as well as in humic acids and fulvic acids not soluble in H₃PO₄. In order to assess whether the long-term input of organic matter and metals modifies the metal association with these humic substances, parcels irrigated for three time periods (5, 47 and 89 years) were selected for this study. It was observed that metals such as Zn and Cu are mainly associated with the humic acids. Fulvic acids retain mainly Cr while Pb is distributed among humic and fulvic acids. It was also observed that in general, metal retention by humic substances increases with irrigation time. Depth also affects metal association with the humic substances.     

The uniqueness of humic substances in each of soil,stream and marine environments

Definitive compositional differences are shown to exist for both fulvic acids and humic acids from soil, stream and marine environments by five different methods (¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, ¹⁴C age and δ¹³C isotopic analyses, amino acid analyses and pyrolysis-mass spectrometry). Definitive differences are also found between fulvic acids and humic acids within each environment. These differences among humic substances from various sources are more readily discerned because the method employed for the isolation of humic substances from all environments excludes most of the non-humic components and results in more purified humic isolates from water and soils. The major compositional aspects of fulvic acids and humic acids which determine the observed characteristic differences in each environment are the amounts and composition of saccharide, phenolic, methoxyl, aromatic, hydrocarbon, amino acids and nitrogen moieties.     

Simultaneous determination of speciation parameters of Cu,Pb, Cd and Zn in model solutions of Suwannee River fulvic acid by pseudopolarography

There is a growing awareness of the importance of quantitative determinations of speciation parameters of the trace metals Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in aqueous samples containing chemically heterogeneous humic substances, especially when they are present together, interacting with one another and competing for specific binding sites of the humic substances. Such determinations require fundamental knowledge and understanding of these complex interactions, gained through basic laboratory-based studies of well-characterized humic substances in model solutions. Since the chemical heterogeneity of humic substances plays an important role in the thermodynamics (stability) and kinetics (lability) of trace metal competition for humic substances, a metal speciation technique such as pseudopolarography that can reveal the special, distinctive nature of metal complexation is required, and it was therefore used in this study. A comparison of the heterogeneity parameters (Gamma) for Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) complexes in model solutions of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) shows that GammaCd>GammaZn>GammaPb>GammaCu, suggesting that SRFA behaves as a relatively homogeneous complexant for Zn(II) and Cd(II), whereas it behaves as a relatively heterogeneous complexant for Pb(II) and an even more heterogeneous complexant for Cu(II) under the experimental conditions used. The order of values of log K* (from the differential equilibrium function, DEF) for the trace metals at pH 5.0 follow the sequence: log K*Cu>log K*Pb>log K*Zn>log K*Cd. These results are in good agreement with the literature values. The results of this work suggest the possibility of simultaneously determining several metals in a sample in a single experiment, and hence in a shorter time than required for multiple experiments.     

Separation and determination of dissolved and particulate humic substances in river water

Distribution of humic and fulvic acids in participate or dissolved form is studied by using simple leaching and sorption techniques. After filtration of water sample (100–200 ml), the filter along with suspended particles is treated with 5 ml of chloroform and 3 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The filter dissolves completely in the organic phase, while the suspended particles remain in the aqueous phase enabling a leaching of humic substances. The leaching is repeated once more with 2 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The humic and fulvic acids in the combined solution are fractionated at pH l by filtration, where the membrane filter is preliminarily coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate. On the other hand, dissolved humic substances are concentrated from a 50-ml filtered sample by sorption on a DEAE-cellulose column. They are desorbed with 5 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution and fractionated at pH 1. The spectrophotometric analysis of river water reveals that fulvic acid is predominant in suspended particles as well as in filtered samples. The concentration of dissolved humic and fulvic acids is approximately ten times that of suspended particles.     

How does organic matter constrain the nature, size and availability of Fe nanoparticles for biological reduction?

Few studies have so far examined the kinetics and extent of the formation of Fe-colloids in the presence of natural organic ligands. The present study used an experimental approach to investigate the rate and amount of colloidal Fe formed in presence of humic substances, by gradually oxidizing Fe(II) at pH 6.5 with or without humic substances (HS) (in this case, humic acid--HA and fulvic acid--FA). Without HS, micronic aggregates (0.1-1 μm diameter) of nano-lepidocrocite is obtained, whereas, in a humic-rich medium (HA and FA suspensions at 60 and 55 ppm of DOC respectively), nanometer-sized Fe particles are formed trapped in an organic matrix. A proportion of iron is not found to contribute to the formation of nanoparticles since iron is complexed to HS as Fe(II) or Fe(III). Humic substances tend to (i) decrease the Fe oxidation and hydrolysis, and (ii) promote nanometer-sized Fe oxide formation by both inhibiting the development of hydroxide nuclei and reducing the aggregation of Fe nanoparticles. Bioreduction experiments demonstrate that bacteria (Shewanella putrefaciens CIP 80.40 T) are able to use Fe nanoparticles associated with organic matter about eight times faster than in the case of nano-lepidocrocite. This increase in bioreduction rate appears to be related to the presence of humic acids that (i) indirectly control the size, shape and density of oxyhydroxides and (ii) directly enhance biological reduction of nanoparticles by electron shuttling and Fe complexation. These results suggest that, in wetlands but also elsewhere where mixed organic matter-Fe colloids occur, Fe nanoparticles closely associated with organic matter represent a bioavailable Fe source much more accessible for microfauna than do crystallized Fe oxyhydroxides.     

Identification of diffuse and point sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in a small stream (Alb, Southwest Germany), using gel filtration chromatography with high-sensitivity DOC-detection

Using gel filtration chromatography and high-sensitivity UV and organic carbon (OC) detection, the quality and quantity of organic matter in a stream (the Alb, Southern Germany) has been studied in the winter season. In the catchment area and upstream of two sewage plant effluents the organic load has been low (below 1 mg/l TOC) and has been dominated by humic substances (more than 80%). Downstream of the sewage plants, TOC increased up to 5 mg/l while humic constituents decreased down to 30%. A detailed analysis showed that in the catchment area the humic fraction has been composed of fulvic acids with relatively high amounts of aliphatic structures. Downstream of the sewage plants, the humic fraction has been composed of fulvic acid precursors with associated non-humic matter. It is concluded that the quality and quantity of organic constituents in the stream has been dominated by the secondary effluents.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dieter Klockow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Preparation and characterization of humic and fulvic acid working standards—practical experience

Two fractions of both fulvic acids (FA) and humic acid (HA) were prepared by fractionation method of Pierce and Felbeck⁵ involving acid hydrolysis of soil rests. This step increases recovery of both FA and HA considerably what suggest us need for slight modification of IHSS method in some cases. The weight loss, change in organic carbon content and visible spectra are figures of merit discussed. After detailed characterization these humic substances (HS) will serve as the working standards for study of interactions between organomercurials and organic part of soil.     

镧系收缩效应对稀土-煤相互作用的影响及煤中有机态稀土的赋存形式研究

通过酸洗脱灰及腐殖酸提取等方法对伊敏褐煤进行处理,并应用ICP-MS对处理前后的样品进行了稀土元素测定。在对脱灰前后稀土元素与灰分和C、H、O等有机组成元素的相关性以及稀土元素在腐殖酸中的赋存特征分析的基础上,认为煤中稀土元素-有机质相互作用受煤化作用过程中的脱氧、脱氢和增碳作用控制。稀土与煤中各类官能团相互作用形成四类有机态稀土元素复合物,第一类是与被烷基侧链高度取代的芳香结构单元形成的复合物;第二类是与氢化芳香结构单元形成的复合物;第三类是与低取代度的芳香结构单元形成的复合物;第四类是与含氧官能团作用形成的复合物,后两类的稳定性差。这些有机态稀土元素复合物的稳定性在总体受镧系收缩效应控制的基础上,还受稀土元素化学价态的影响;重稀土与有机质形成的有机态稀土元素复合物的稳定性大于轻稀土。轻稀土在原煤中和腐殖酸的结合不稳定,且具有与镧系收缩相反的效应;轻稀土在脱灰煤中和腐殖酸的结合,与中稀土、重稀土在原煤和脱灰煤中腐殖酸结合规律相同,都体现了良好的镧系收缩效应。     

Role of fulvic acids for transporting and fixing phosphate and iron ions in bean plants by radiotracer technique

Among humic substances formed by organic matter decomposition process, fulvic acids have been extensively studied because their solubility and soil fertilizer properties. This paper describes how some mineral nutrient elements are absorbed by the root as well as the foliage of bean plants and how they move in both directions depending on their association to fulvic acids. In this study, radiotracers of phosphate and iron have been used (H₂ ³²PO₄ ^-, ⁵⁹Fe²⁺). The results obtained are quantitative by instrumental detection and qualitative by autoradiography of the radiotracers. A very clear effect has been found about motion and fixation of phosphate and iron ions in bean plants brought about by fulvic acids commercially produced in Mexico by organic synthesis. This effect seems to be the more homogeneous distribution in the vegetable tissues of the mineral ions absorbed from the soil. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of groundwater humic and fulvic acids of different origin by GPC with UV/Vis and fluorescence detection

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was applied for recognizing the origin of groundwater humic and fulvic acids. GPC was performed with Fraktogel TSK HW-50 in 0.1 M NaCl, pH 8.5 (0.05 M phosphate buffer), 1 mM EDTA, with 10% by volume methanol added. Humic substances from groundwaters and sediments of four different aquifer systems in Germany were isolated, purified and characterized. Both UV/Vis and fluorescence detection were applied. UV/Vis detection was found to be more powerful in identifying differences between the various humic and fulvic acids. The four aquifer systems investigated (“Gorleben”, “Fuhrberg”, “Franconian Albvorland” and “Munich”) differed from one another with respect to hydrological and geochemical conditions. The results showed that the GPC-elution behavior reflects the geochemical environment and origin (source material and generation process) of aquatic humic and fulvic acids.     

Fire impact on forest soils evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

The assessment of physico-chemical properties in forest soils affected by fires was evaluated using near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric methods. In order to describe the soil properties, measurements were taken of the total organic carbon on solid phase, the total nitrogen content, the organic carbon and the specific absorbences at 254 and 280 nm of humic substances, organic carbon in humic and fulvic acids, concentrations of NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and phosphorus in addition to NIR spectra. Then, a fire recurrence index was defined and calculated according to the different fires extents affecting soils. This calculation includes the occurrence of fires as well as the time elapsed since the last fire. This study shows that NIR spectroscopy could be considered as a tool for soil monitoring, particularly for the quantitative prediction of the total organic carbon, total nitrogen content, organic carbon in humic substances, concentrations of phosphorus, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and NH₄⁺ and humic substances UVSA₂₅₄. Further validation in this field is necessary however, to try and make successful predictions of K⁺, organic carbon in humic and fulvic acids and the humic substances UVSA₂₈₀. Moreover, NIR coupled with PLS can also be useful to predict the fire recurrence index in order to determine the spatial variability. Also this method can be used to map more or less burned areas and possibly to apply adequate rehabilitation techniques, like soil litter reconstitution with organic enrichments (industrial composts) or reforestation. Finally, the proposed recurrence index can be considered representative of the state of the soils.     

Assessing the trihalomethane formation potential of aquatic fulvic and humic acids fractionated using thin-layer chromatography

The significance of this research is the application of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to fractionate well-characterized aquatic humic materials coupled with the novel evaluation of the trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) of the fractionated materials. Disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) form when natural water is treated by chlorination. Nordic Aquatic and Suwannee River fulvic and humic acids, obtained from the International Humic Substances Society, were prepared at pH 6 and 9 and fractionated on silica gel plates using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and ethyl acetate (2:1, v:v). Based on retention factor (R(f)) values, three common fractions were identified in all substances examined. Additionally, other fractions were noted that were characteristic of specific humic substances. Each of the three primary fractions derived from Nordic Aquatic fulvic acid at pH 6 demonstrated the potential to contribute to formation of THMs. This research provides data to support the hypothesis that differences in the chemical structure and composition of natural organic matter (NOM) significantly affect the potential to react with chlorine to form THMs.     

Influence of humic substances on sorption and methylation processes of inorganic- and organo-tin species

The influence of humic substances on sorption and methylation processes for inorganic- and organotin species is presented. Four sediment samples from different locations of the Rivers Elbe, Mulde and Spittelwasser, Germany, with different organotin and humic contents were selected to extract the humic and fulvic acids. The various fractions—the original sediment, the humic acid, the fulvic acid and the residual sediment—were analysed for their organotin content. The individual buyltin species show quite different distribution patterns. Monobutyltin is found mostly associated with humic acids. Dibutyltin shows a nonunique behaviour. At low total organotin content, dibutyltin is found bonded to humic and fulvic acids, whereas at high organotin content dibutyltin is distributed more with the residual sediment. Most of the tributyltin remains in the sediment unextracted; only small quantities of it are in the fulvic acid fraction. Tetrabutyltin is only in the humic acid fraction when it binds to humic matter; it mostly remains in the sediment. General observations indicate that ionic butyltin species bind to fulvic acids whereas the non-polar tetrabutyltin is not found in the fulvic acid fractions in any of the samples. The appearance of monomethyl- and dimethyl-tin species in the humic and fulvic acid fractions after the alkaline extraction was surprising. There is a correlation between the humic content of the sample and the formation of methyltin species. Evidence is provided by experiments that humic substances act as methylation agents.     

Molecular features of organic matter in diagnostic horizons from andosols as seen by analytical pyrolysis

Andosols are usually formed from volcanic substrates, with thick A horizons high in organic carbon mainly in the form of stabilized humic fractions. The peculiar properties of these soils are, to large extent, affected by poorly crystalline materials like allophanes, imogolite and other Fe and Al oxyhydroxides that induce intense organo-mineral interactions which are considered to play a relevant role in OM protection against biodegradation as regards other soils developed under similar climatic conditions. Little is known about the molecular composition of this stabilized OM in a soil scenario often considered as an efficient C-sink in terms of C sequestration processes.Whole soil samples in addition to isolated humic and fulvic acids from organic A horizons of three soils with andic properties and one non-andic soil (Sodic Cambisol) from the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) were analysed by double shot pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) in order to get some insight on the molecular composition of different structural domains of progressive structural stability.Clear differences were found between soils, both in thermal desorption and pyrolysis behaviour of humic substances. In general the results suggest large yields of aliphatic (both alkyl and carbohydrate-derived pyrolysis compounds) pointing to high-performance processes of incorporation of aliphatic humic constituents in andosols probably favoured by interactions with amorphous minerals, whereas in non-andic soils the latter are comparatively less stabilized and are removed in early pyrolysis stages as if they occurred as loosely joined, thermoevaporation-released products.In fact, compared to Cambisol, humic and fulvic acids from andic soils led to comparatively richer pyrograms and compound assemblages. The lack of similar amounts of these loosely joined, mainly aliphatic structures after thermal desorption of the whole andic soils indicate an origin for humic substances based on rapid sequestration of C-forms of recent (litter or microbial) origin.     

Characterization of humic substances: Implications for trihalomethane formation

Humic substances are precursors of carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during disinfection by chlorination in water treatment processes. In an effort to understand the relationship between trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and physicochemical properties of humic substances, UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence in emission and synchronous scan modes, and NMR spectra were measured for several aquatic fulvic and humic acids. For comparison, a soil fulvic acid was also examined using these methods. The feasibility of the gradient modified spin-echo (GOSE) NMR experiment to selectively measure singlet resonances arising from isolated protons was examined. In addition, diffusion coefficients were measured for DMSO solutions of the fulvic acids using BPPLED and GOSE-edited pulse sequences. Although none of the methods tested produced results that correlated with THMFP, the GOSE intensities determined for different regions of the NMR spectra did reflect the relative abundance of different types of functional groups produced by lignin oxidation. In addition, the GOSE-edited diffusion results suggest that the isolated protons, those most reactive to chlorination, are more likely contained in the larger molecular weight fractions of fulvic acids.     

Molecular features of organic matter in diagnostic horizons from andosols as seen by analytical pyrolysis

Andosols are usually formed from volcanic substrates, with thick A horizons high in organic carbon mainly in the form of stabilized humic fractions. The peculiar properties of these soils are, to large extent, affected by poorly crystalline materials like allophanes, imogolite and other Fe and Al oxyhydroxides that induce intense organo-mineral interactions which are considered to play a relevant role in OM protection against biodegradation as regards other soils developed under similar climatic conditions. Little is known about the molecular composition of this stabilized OM in a soil scenario often considered as an efficient C-sink in terms of C sequestration processes.

Whole soil samples in addition to isolated humic and fulvic acids from organic A horizons of three soils with andic properties and one non-andic soil (Sodic Cambisol) from the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) were analysed by double shot pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) in order to get some insight on the molecular composition of different structural domains of progressive structural stability.

Clear differences were found between soils, both in thermal desorption and pyrolysis behaviour of humic substances. In general the results suggest large yields of aliphatic (both alkyl and carbohydrate-derived pyrolysis compounds) pointing to high-performance processes of incorporation of aliphatic humic constituents in andosols probably favoured by interactions with amorphous minerals, whereas in non-andic soils the latter are comparatively less stabilized and are removed in early pyrolysis stages as if they occurred as loosely joined, thermoevaporation-released products.

In fact, compared to Cambisol, humic and fulvic acids from andic soils led to comparatively richer pyrograms and compound assemblages. The lack of similar amounts of these loosely joined, mainly aliphatic structures after thermal desorption of the whole andic soils indicate an origin for humic substances based on rapid sequestration of C-forms of recent (litter or microbial) origin.     

伊敏褐煤中微量元素的地球化学特征及其无机-有机亲和性分析

采用脱矿物质、提取腐殖酸等方法结合ICP-MS对伊敏15_上、16_下煤中的32种微量元素的含量及其赋存特征进行了分析。与地壳克拉克值及中国侏罗-白垩纪煤和世界褐煤中微量元素含量相比,伊敏褐煤中微量元素没有明显富集。脱矿物质处理后,Ni明显富集,As略比原煤高,其他微量元素都低于原煤。原煤提取腐殖酸和脱矿物煤提取腐殖酸中Ni、Mo、Cd、Sn、W明显富集,这表明Ni、Mo、Cd、Sn、W和腐殖酸形成了稳定的有机态化合物。原煤提取腐殖酸残煤和脱矿物煤提取腐殖酸残煤中V、Ni、As富集,表明V、Ni、As与煤的大分子结构形成了稳定的有机态化合物。根据微量元素和灰分的相关性系数,把微量元素分为以下几类:无机富集元素Cr、U;亲无机元素Cu、Cd、In、Sn、Ga、Y、Zr、Hf、Bi、Th;偏无机元素Be、Sc、Rb、Sr、Nb、Cs、Ta、Pb;偏有机元素V、As、Tl、Ba、Se;亲有机元素Li、Co、W;有机富集元素Ni、Zn、Mo、Sb。     

An Electrochemical Study of the Interactions Between Trace Metals and Humic Substances in Freshwaters by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with a Thin Mercury Film Rotating Disk Electrode

An improved theoretical approach to Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with a Thin Mercury Film Rotating Disk Electrode for elucidating the nature of the interactions of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) with humic substances in model solutions of Laurentian fulvic acid, and of Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) in freshwaters, is presented. Conditional stability constants of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes decreased with the ionic potential (z²/r) and increased with softness of the metal ion, indicating strong affinity of soft, polarizable donor ligands on humic substances for softer metal ions, resulting in an appreciable covalent character in electrostatic bonding between the metals and humic substances.     

Effect of Organic Substances on the Results of Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Detection of Metal Ions in Aqueous Media

Abstract

The d.c. anodic stripping voltammetry method has been used to investigate the effect of organic substances simulating the composition of natural waters on the results of determination of concentration levels of copper, lead and cadmium. The response, sensitivity and concentration (the latter determined by the standard additions method) have been used as sources of information. In the presence of enzymes, fulvic acids, humic acids and polyethylene glycol all these three parameters change in the case of determination of copper and lead, making the results unreliable. The determination of cadmium concentration is not hampered by the said organic substances.