Ligand exchange and fluorescence quenching studies of the fulvic acid-iron interaction: Effects of ph and light

The effects of pH and light on the interaction between fulvic acid and iron have been investigated through studies of the kinetics of exchange of iron between fulvic acid and 1,10-pehnanthroline(a strong iron(II) complexing agent), and of the quenching of intrinsic fulvic acid fluorescence by iron in solutions of pH 4.0 and 6.5 containing an excess of fulvic acid. The results enable the iron-fulvic acid interaction to be described in terms of operationally defined iron-fulvic acid groupings, the proportions of which are markedly dependent on pH and light conditions. At pH 4.0 fulvic acid exhibits considerable reducing ability with the result that a substantial portion of iron is present in reduced, unbound form. Irradiation of fulvic acids at this pH markedly increases their reducing ability. Iron that is not reduced is present as small (ultrafilterable), strongly bound iron(III) complexes. Iron bound in this form is an effective quencher of intrinsic fulvic acid fluorescence. At higher pH, essentially all of the iron is relatively strongly bound, with most being in the form of large (non-ultrafilterable) iron(III)—fulvic acid groupings. These groupings are not altered significantly by irradiation and iron bound in this form is not a very effective quencher of intrinsic fulvic acid fluorescence.