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.     

Vergleich von Continuous-flow- und Flow-injection-Analysentechniken zur photometrischen Bestimmung von Aluminiumspuren in W?ssern und B?den

Summary The determination of aluminium is carried out by means of Chromazurol S. Interferences by iron(III) are eliminated by reduction with ascorbic acid. FIA shows more symmetric signals than CFA. By FIA also higher sample frequencies and better reproducibility are obtainable. Only Teflon tubes should be used for the analytical systems because of the adsorption of Al on glass surfaces. Detection limits are about 10 ng/ml of Al. In case of soil solutions and water samples the evaluation has to be performed according to the standard addition method as considerable matrix effects are caused by the organic substances. Only kinetically labile aluminium is determinable. Therefore, comparisons with atomic absorption determinations are presented. Correlations between pH-values of the soil solutions and the part of photometrically determinable aluminium are recognizable.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Fresenius zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Separation and determination of traces of heavy metals complexed with humic substances in fresh waters by sorption on diethylaminoethyl-sephadex a-25

Copper(II), lead and cadmium complexed with humic and fulvic acids in filtered 1-l samples of fresh water are sorbed on a column containing 0.5 ml of the macroreticular weak-base anion exchanger, diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 at a flow rate of 20 ml min^?1. Simple metal cations are not sorbed at all. The sorbed trace metals are quantitatively desorbed with 4 M nitric acid batchwise and determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. For synthetic aqueous solutions containing traces of heavy metals and humic acid, the results are in conformity with those obtained by cationexchange separation. About 80% of the sorbed humic substances are eluted with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide solution from the A-25 column and its quantity is estimated spectrophotometrically at 400 nm.     

Copper speciation in aqueous solutions of fulvic acid and related molecular weight distributions

Potentiometric and fluorescence measurements of aqueous solutions of fulvic acid containing Cu(NO₃)₂ or Cu(ClO₄)₂, respectively, were carried out at 25?°C and pH 5.5 to determine naturally occurring Cu species. The fulvic acid used was isolated by XAD-8 from filtrated (0.3 μm) water of a peat bog in the Dachauer Moos near Munich. From the results an operational molecular weight of fulvic acid of about 750 g/ mol was estimated, which was confirmed by molecular weight distributions determined by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Using this molecular weight and assuming that mainly 1:1 Cu-fulvic acid complexes are formed, a conditional stability constant of the Cu-fulvic acid complex of 10^5.9 could be calculated. These data are essential for the assessment of organic carrier-mediated migration of Cu as well as of the toxicological risk potential of Cu in aqueous environment and can be used as input parameters for geochemical modeling of the Cu species distribution in aqueous solutions.     

Kinetic analysis of aluminum complex formation with different soil fulvic acids

A fluorescence technique was used to investigate the complex formation kinetics of aluminum with fulvic acids isolated from different forest soil environments. In the pH range of 2.4–3.6, all of the fulvic acids were found to contain two kinetically distinguishable components, which define two types of average aluminum binding sites. Both of these average sites on all of the fulvic acids conformed to a bidentate chelating binding site kinetic analysis, from which average rate and equilibrium parameters were obtained. Evidence indicated that the difference in reaction rate between the two types of aluminum binding sites on the fulvic acids was due to a steric strain, whereby aluminum was repelled from the slower reacting sites. In comparing this study with a similar kinetic study carried out in acetate buffered solutions, it was found that the presence of buffer changed both the overall mechanism by which aluminum reacted with fulvic acid, and the nature of the sites on fulvic acid that bind aluminum.     

Atomic force microscopy of soil and stream fulvic acids

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to image fulvic acid (FA) deposited from aqueous solution on to the basal-plane surfaces of freshly cleaved muscovite, and allowed to air dry. Two fulvic acid samples were used: a soil fulvic acid (SFA) prepared by NaOH extraction from a muck soil underlying a freshwater fen in the New Jersey Pinelands and the IHSS standard Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). The use of tapping-mode AFM (TMAFM), a relatively new technique which reduces the lateral frictional forces generally associated with contact-mode AFM, allowed excellent images of delicate FA structures to be obtained with minimal sample disturbance. Four main structures were observed on SFA. At low concentrations, sponge-like structures consisting of rings ( 15 nm in diameter) appeared, along with small spheres (10–50 nm). At higher concentrations, aggregates of spheres formed branches and chain-like assemblies. At very high surface coverage, perforated sheets were observed. On some samples, all of these structures were apparent, perhaps owing to concentration gradients on drying. SRFA samples were only imagined at higher concentrations. Spheres, aggregated branches, and perforated sheets were apparent. The results agree with previous work by Stevenson and Schnitzer [Soil Sci., 133(1992) 179], who applied TEM to soil FAs freeze-dried on muscovite. However, the TEM images did not detect the smaller spheres and sponge-like structures observed by AFM at low concentrations. The relevance of imaging dried samples remains questionable; hence, it is hoped in the future to use new in situ TMAFM to image FAs sorbed to surfaces in solution. Although TMAFM provided excellent images, a variety of artifacts and potential problems were encountered, as discussed.     

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.     

Capillary electrophoretic separation of humic substances using hydroxyethyl cellulose as a buffer additive and its application to characterization of humic substances in a river water sample

We have developed a concise tool for the investigation of the transition of humic substances in environmental water. The separation of water-soluble humic substances was achieved rapidly and effectively by capillary electrophoresis using a polyacrylamide-coated capillary and a phosphate electrophoretic buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing hydroxyethyl cellulose. The separation mechanism was assessed using the ultrafiltration technique. The effect of the complexation of humic substances with metal ions was studied by using the proposed method. When Fe(III) ions or EDTA was added to the sample solution of fulvic acid, a distinct change in the electropherogram pattern based on the conformational change of fulvic acid was observed. The successful application of the proposed method to the characterization of humic substances in a river water sample was also demonstrated. Figure Addition of Fe(III) ions or EDTA to a solution containing fulvic acid (FA) results in a distinct change in the electropherogram pattern, which reflects the conformational change of FA: this forms the basis for the characterization of humic substances in river water samples     

Stable isotope analysis of dissolved organic carbon in soil solutions using a catalytic combustion total organic carbon analyzer‐isotope ratio mass spectrometer with a cryofocusing interface

Stable carbon isotopes are a powerful tool to assess the origin and dynamics of carbon in soils. However, direct analysis of the ¹³C/¹²C ratio in the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool has proved to be difficult. Recently, several systems have been developed to measure isotope ratios in DOC by coupling a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. However these systems were designed for the analysis of fresh and marine water and no results for soil solutions or ¹³C‐enriched samples have been reported. Because we mainly deal with soil solutions in which the difficult to oxidize humic and fulvic acids are the predominant carbon‐containing components, we preferred to use thermal catalytic oxidation to convert DOC into CO₂. We therefore coupled a high‐temperature combustion TOC analyzer with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, by trapping and focusing the CO₂ cryogenically between the instruments. The analytical performance was tested by measuring solutions of compounds varying in the ease with which they can be oxidized. Samples with DOC concentrations between 1 and 100 mg C/L could be analyzed with good precision (standard deviation (SD) ≤0.6‰), acceptable accuracy, good linearity (overall SD = 1‰) and without significant memory effects. In a ¹³C‐tracer experiment, we observed that mixing plant residues with soil caused a release of plant‐derived DOC, which was degraded or sorbed during incubation. Based on these results, we are confident that this approach can become a relatively simple alternative method for the measurement of the ¹³C/¹²C ratio of DOC in soil solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The detection of aluminium complexes in forest soil solutions and beech xylem saps

Summary An ion-pair chromatographic method in which aluminium is quantitatively determined via derivatization with 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid was evaluated for its utility as a method for speciating Al in soil solutions and xylem saps. The results show that aluminium fluoride and several five- or six-membered chelate complexes are stable enough to be analyzed chromatographically.     

Static SIMS studies of carboxylic acids on gold and aluminium–magnesium alloy surfaces

Static secondary ion mass spectrometry was used to study the surface reactions and lateral distributions of fatty carboxylic acid molecules on sputter‐deposited gold and aluminium surfaces, as well as commercial aluminium–magnesium alloy surfaces, cleaned using UV/ozone. Films were prepared by spin coating dilute solutions of stearic acid and lauric acid onto the above surfaces. These carboxylic acids were shown to react with the oxide formed on the aluminium and aluminum–magnesium alloy substrates to produce a deprotonated acid anion, stabilized by the formation of a magnesium soap on the aluminium–magnesium alloy surface. Secondary ion imaging of stearic acid films revealed the formation of C‐type crystals. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Methylation of tin(II) by methyl iodide in porewater

The methylation of tin(II) chloride by methyl iodide in porewater and formation of monomethyltin as the only methyltin product are described. A factorial experiment tested the effects of concentrations of tin(II), methyl iodide, and oxygen on monomethyltin yields. The experiments gave 0.18 to 12.8 % yield. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations showed that all three variables were significant at the 95 % level. Comparison of yields in aqueous 23 g kg^?1 sodium chloride solutions to those in porewater and to those containing fulvic acid, salicylic acid, and EDTA showed that only fulvic acid significantly reduced yields. Reasons for this observation are discussed and the findings in the model system are related to methylation of tin compounds in sediments.     

Calorimetric investigation of complex formation of some humic compounds

In the present paper we studied the complexation capacity towards copper ion of fulvic acids extracted from Arno River and Lake Como sediments, as well as Antarctic Sea water at different pHs in order to evaluate the interaction of different complexing groups of fulvic acids with copper ions. The binding capacity studies were carried out by means of titration with a copper-selective electrode and calorimetric measurements. For the same purpose, the heat of reaction in the complexation of copper ions with small molecules containing functional groups similar to fulvic acid was also determined. Titration results indicated that the fraction of bound metal increases with increasing pH (from 5 to 7). This may be accounted for by the increase in the ionisation of the fulvic acid molecule. Results obtained from calorimetric measurements show that the quantity of total heat involved in the metal ion-fulvate interactions determines a decreasing exothermic response with increasing pH values. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of acid rain on soil humic compounds

The modifications induced by acid rain on the solubility, molecular configuration and molecular weight distribution of humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids were studied. A natural soil was subjected to simulated acid rain until a soil pH of 4 was obtained; HA and FA acids were then extracted and characterised. The results obtained were compared both with those of natural soil and with those of a soil subjected to acid rain. Elute analysis indicates the continuous release of soluble organic compounds as a consequence of acid rain simulation, although no relationship was found with the process of soil acidification. The yields of HA and FA show that HA values are the same while FA amount is higher in the natural soil; in acid soils their water solubility increases. The molecular weight distribution shows that HA consist of a mixture of compounds of different molecular weights; they are molecules for the most part larger than 100 kDa and their distribution is not changed by soil acidification. FA can be considered to form a much more homogeneous system; in natural soil, the molecules are larger than 50 kDa, while in acidified soil they are for the most part smaller than 3 kDa.     

Determination of aluminium and chromium in slurried baby food samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine aluminium and chromium in different types of baby foods. Samples without previous treatment were introduced into the atomizer as suspensions, which were prepared in a medium containing 0.1% (w/v) Triton X-100 (for chromium) or 10% (v/v) ethanol (for aluminium), 5% (v/v) concentrated hydrogen peroxide, and 0.5% (v/v) concentrated nitric acid. The slurries were homogenized with a potter and introduced directly into the furnace. The presence of nitric acid allowed a substantial amount of analyte to be extracted to the liquid phase. No matrix effect was observed and aqueous standard solutions were used for calibration. The detection limits were 4 and 50 pg for chromium and aluminium, respectively; characteristic masses were 3.8 pg for chromium and 18 pg for aluminium. Reliability of the procedures was checked by statistically comparing the results with those obtained with a previous microwave oven mineralization stage and by analyis of several certified reference materials. Values for the aluminium content ranged between 0.4 and 3.0 microg/g, and for chromium between 0.003 and 0.06 microg/g.     

Pyrolysis GC/MS identification of halogenated furandiones and other products from chlorinated aqueous humic solutions

Summary Chlorination of drinking water often leads to undesirable byproducts. Little is known about the hydrophilic chlorinated fragments and the high molecular products. For the investigations presented here, solutions of fulvic acids were chlorinated which had been isolated from a brown water lake and from a groundwater rich in DOC. The fulvic acid-like part of the products was reisolated using XAD-2 resin. Both the original fulvic acid and the chlorinated product were analyzed by pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A number of compounds was identified including furandiones and pyrandiones. However, it remains unclear whether the furanones and pyranones were already present in the chlorinated samples or whether these were formed during pyrolysis by elimination of water from dicarboxylic acids.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Study of the complex formation of copper(II) by humic and fulvic substances

A study of the complexation of copper(II) by fulvic substances, based on ion-selective electrode measurements, is reported. The influences of the copper concentration (10^-6 –1O^-4 M), fulvic acid concentration (2–100 mg 1^-1), pH (3–8) and calcium concentration (10^-4–5 × 1O^-3 M) are given particular attention. The effects of statistical errors on the measurement of the values of the complex-formation parameters are considered. These parameters are measured for various surface-water samples, aqueous soil extracts, peat water and solutions of organic matter formed by in vitro decomposition of leaves. In general, these parameters vary little with actual source for a particular type of water.     

Oryzias latipes鱼体对不同形态镧的积累特征

在试验室条件下研究了Oryzias latipes鱼体对不同形态轻稀土La的积累特征及它对游离La吸收的动力学过程,并初步探讨了鱼对La的吸收机制。结果表明,试验鱼对La的积累量随水相游离La浓度增高、暴露时间增长而增加;水相富里酸的存在明显降低了La对鱼对生物有效性。此外,试验鱼也可以通过摄食获取水相中的La。     

COMPLEXES OF Al(III) WITH HYDROXYAROMATIC LIGANDS

Abstract

In order to assess the aluminium binding ability of humic and fulvic acids, important organic soil constituents, a pH-potentiometric study was made of the proton and aluminium(III) complexes of various bi-, tri- and tetradentate catechol and salicylic acid derivatives at 25°C and at an ionic strength of 0.20moldm^?3 (KC1). The stability data revealed that at low pH the salicylate function, and at high pH the catecholate function, is preferentially bound to the aluminium ion. In the intermediate pH range, mixed hydroxo complexes and other di/oligomeric species are also formed. With an increase of the number of available coordinating sites in the molecule, the tendency to oligomeric complex formation increases, while the tendency to metal ion hydrolysis decreases.     

Application of sampled-d.c. anodic stripping voltammetry to metal/fulvic acid equilibria

The use of anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) to determine the labile metal fraction in metal/ fulvic acid equilibrium systems is discussed. A method is described for distinguishing between the contributions of processes in the reduction and oxidation steps to the observed anodic (stripping) current. This method, which facilitates separate examination of the two processes, is based on timed addition of fulvic acids during the deposition step, on pH control, and on measurement of sampled-d.c. ASV peak areas (Faradaic charge) for metal/fulvic acid solutions. Results are presented for copper(Il) and lead(Il) complexes with six colloid-free soil-derived fulvic acids. In contrast to differential-pulse ASV, the stripping current measured by sampled-d.c. ASV showed no measurable contribution from ligand adsorption on the mercury drop. For heterogeneous ligand systems, such as fulvic acid, use of stripping peak heights over-estimates the fraction of non-labile metal complex because peak broadening results from the range of complexes formed in the anodic step.