Influence of amide linkages on acidity determinations of humic substances Testing with model-mixtures

A set of experiments, using model compounds, was carried out in order to evaluate the influence of amide linkages on acidity measurements of humic substances (HS). Three benzene-carboxylic acids (2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid; 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and phthalic acid) and two peptides (dl-alanyl-dl-alanine, and glycil-l-leucine) were employed to simulate the major acidic functional groups present in humic material. The acidity of the samples was measured, using the Schnitzer and Gupta methods, for each compound separately, as well as for selected mixtures with different compound combinations. General results showed that, in the absence of peptides, phenolic groups with high pK_a values are not detected in the barium hydroxide reaction and the data so obtained do not represent the real concentrations of the acidic groups. For the mixtures containing peptides, the presence of amide linkages distorts the results relative to the total acidity (TA) mainly because under the extreme conditions of the reaction with Ba(OH)₂ hydrolysis of the peptide occurs, consuming extra hydroxyl groups and increasing artificially the phenolic content. Such a condition is minimized by the reduction of the reaction time.     

Evaluation of humic complexes of trace metals in river water by adsorption on indium-treated XAD-2 resin and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 anion exchanger

A combined adsorption procedure for the analytical fractionation of humic/metal complexes in river water is described. It is based on an indium-loaded XAD-2 resin and a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 anion exchanger, respectively. After the separation of suspended particles, an aliquot of the water sample to be analysed is passed through an indium-loaded XAD-2 resin column to collect the metal-humic complexes. A second aliquot is directly passed through a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 anion exchanger column to collect humic complexes and other negatively charged metal species. Both column effluents are analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry or by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for various trace metals (e.g., Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba). According to this fractionation procedure, significant amounts of iron, aluminium and copper in river water are found to be humic complexes, and less than 15% of nickel, cobalt and zinc are complexed with humic substances. Manganese, strontium and barium are hardly associated with humic substances.     

Humic substances in surface waters of the Ukraine

The results of studies of humic substances in water bodies of different types (lakes, rivers, and reservoirs) are given. It is shown that concentration of these natural organic compounds varies in a wide range of values (from 1.2 to 126.5 mg L^?1) due to different sources of their formation. The highest concentrations of humic substances are characteristic for rivers of the Pripyat’ River basin flowing through the wetland. As we move from the north to the south, the content of humic substances is reduced. So, in the Kakhovka Reservoir, closing the Dnieper cascade of reservoirs, the concentration of humic substances is almost thrice as low as in the Kiev Reservoir, which is at the head of the cascade. Seasonal changes of humic substances concentration and the reasons for these changes are discussed. The prevailing fraction in the composition of humic substances is represented by fulvic acids, the content of which reaches 80.8–94.8% of the total. The results of studies of the molecular weight distribution of humic substances and the reasons for changes in the ratio of their individual fractions, depending on the detection method (spectrophotometric and fluorescence methods), are considered. The values of the number average (M _n) and weight average (M _w) molecular weight of humic substances and the degree of polydispersity are calculated. It is shown that M _w varies seasonally. In spring and summer it is lower, but significantly increased in autumn. The reason for this phenomenon is degradation of high-molecular fractions of humic substances under the influence of UV light of solar radiation and increased microbiological activity during the summer season. As a result of these processes high-molecular fractions of humic substances are transformed into fractions with lower molecular weight, which become predominant.     

Studying the interaction between triazines and humic substances--a new approach using open tubular capillary electrochromatography

The strength of the interaction between a pesticide and the soil organic matter is a key parameter to assess the risk of it reaching to groundwater with potentially harmful effects to human health. In this work, a new approach that allows measuring such interactions in a few minutes using a purified fraction of the soil organic matter (humic substances) is detailed. The strength of sorption is assessed via the normalised difference of elution (retention factor, k′) between the chemical of interest and a neutral marker transported via electroosmotic flow through an open tubular column supporting the immobilised humic substances (open tubular capillary electrochromatography). The immobilisation was achieved by incubating a capillary, pre-coated with a monolayer of humic acid, with an acidic solution of humic substances. This induces the formation of a supramolecular structure of humic substances as it occurs in soils. This aggregate can easily be removed using alkaline solutions, and a new structure assembled using other humic substances (HS) or different incubations conditions. The whole procedure takes 2 h. This approach has been tested using five triazines and three types of humic substances. The order of the strength of sorption of the triazines as expected from relevant literature and the relative standard deviation of k′ was between 1 and 6%. Good repeatability was also observed after long period of wash, between re-coating and repeating of the full coating with a new capillary.     

Multiresidue Analysis of Pesticides in Water from Rice Cultures by On-line Solid Phase Extraction Followed by LC-DAD

Abstract

An automated on-line solid phase extraction procedure followed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection was investigated for the determination of different classes of pesticides in water samples containing varied amount of humic substances. The different pesticides used were: carbendazin, carbofuran, atrazine, diuron, propanil, molinate, alachlor, parathion-ethyl, diazinon, trifluralin and the degradation products deisopropylatrazine and deethylatrazine. Humic substances extracted from a Brazilian sediment were used from 5 to 80 mg/l and their influence on recoveries was evaluated in neutral and acidic media. Recoveries higher than 70% were obtained for all the pesticides, from the preconcentration of 75 ml of aqueous sample fortified at 2 ng/ml using precolumns packed with PLRP-S. Good recoveries were obtained at neutral pH for most of the analytes up to 40 mg/l of humic acid. Only at 80 mg/l the recoveries were significantly affected, both at acidic and neutral pH. The method was applied to the determination of pesticides in river water spiked at 0.1 to 1 ng/ml. Detection limits obtained for water containing 10 mg/l of humic acid were between 0.05 and 0.3 ng/ml.     

Precision of Isolation of Aquatic Humic Matter by Xad-Resin Technology from NMR Spectroscopy's Point of View

Abstract

The most crucial question in the aquatic humus chemistry is a reliable and selective separation and fractionation of the humic solutes from other organic and inorganic constituents. The dilute solutions of natural dissolved organic matter must in a way or another be concentrated before fractionation and molecular characterization. The most popular method for this purpose is the application of non-ionic macroporous resins at preadjusted acidity. The routine is fractionate further at strongly acidic conditions the obtained mixture of hydrophobic humic solutes into so-called humic and fulvic acids. Quantitatively and in the light of elemental analysis and basic functional groups this fractionation seems to be reliable. However, from the point of view of the structural composition, the precision of the procedure was not so self-evident. The data of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has proved that it is slightly erratic to repeat from the standard homogeneous water sample the isolation-fractionation for obtaining structurally wholly identical humic and fulvic acids. This deviation was not solely as a result of the technique itself, but also of the highly sensitive nature of the humic solutes.     

Neutron irradiation in activation analysis: A new rabbit for the NBSR

Two radiochemical separation methods were developed for the separation of ⁸⁸Y from a SrS target (3.2 g, pressed into a 19 mm disc) and Al (2.5 g, the capsule contained the target). The first method was based on solvent extraction technique using undiluted TBP/HNO₃ system and the second was an extraction chromatography using a column packed with TBP-impregnated Amberlite XAD-4 resin. A simple procedure was used for the impregnation of the XAD-4 resin with TBP. For both methods concentrated nitric acid was used for extraction/adsorption and 2M HCl for back extraction/elution of ⁸⁸Y. In terms of recovery of ⁸⁸Y, the solvent (TBP)-impregnated resin showed better results (average 91.2% compared to 88.9% with extraction).     

Ion-Exchange Preconcentration and Separation of Trace mounts of Platinum and Palladium

ABSTRACT

The preconcentration and separation of platinum and palladium from weakly acidic solution (pH=4) were done on microcolumn packed with Cellex-T resin. Selective platinum elution from the column was performed with 0.01 mol/l glycine solution at pH=12, while for palladium elution 1.2 mol/l thiourea (pH=0.5) or 4.0 mol/l potassium thiocyanate (pH=1) may be used. As the detection technique was used either FAAS or GFAAS, depending on the concentration of studied metals in the eluate.     

Chemical removal of humic substances interfering with the on-line solid-phase extraction—Liquid chromatographic determination of polar water pollutants

Summary Different methods for removing interference by humic substances in the analysis of polar pollutants have been compared in the analysis of environmental water by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a chemically modified polymeric resin coupled on-line to liquid chromatography with UV detection. The methods were based on the use of chemical reagents. The best method was found to be addition of sodium sulphite to humic-containing water before SPE. The appropriate amount of sulphite depends on the amount of humic substances dissolved in the sample—for analysis of 50 mL tap and Ebro river water, respectively, 250 μL and 500 μL 10 % Na₂SO₃ solution had to be added. In both cases, the recovery values after chemical treatment were similar to those when a Milli-Q-quality water standard was analysed.     

Preconcentration and determination of calcium and magnesium in brine with flow-injection systems

On-line preconcentration on a chelating resin (Dowex A-1) and elution with 0.1 M hydorchloric acid is followed by spectrophotometry based on the metal complexes formed with 1- (2-hydroxy-4-diethylamino-1-phenylazo)-2-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid. The total concentration of calcium and magnesium is determined; in a second sample, calcium is masked with a ligand buffer containing excess of barium(II) and EGTA, and magnesium is determined. The calcium concentration is measured by difference. Magnesium (1–30 μg l^?1 and calcium (8– 10 μg l^?1) in 2.5 M sodium chloride can be determined. Calcium and magnesium in analytical reagent-grade sodium chloride and potassium chloride and primary standard sodium chloride are aslo determined. The method based on the exchange between calcium ions and Mg(EDTA) is proposed to enchance the sensitivity for calcium.     

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.     

Interference of Humic Substances in the Spectrophotometric Determination of Bromate by Phenothiazines in Natural Waters

Abstract

The spectrophotometric method of bromate (BrO₃ ^?) determination by phenothiazines was applied to natural water samples and the interferences due to the presence of inorganic and humic substances were investigated. Common ions present in natural waters did not interfere and only the less abundant NO₂ ^? and Fe²⁺ exhibited strong interferences. Interferences of the two latter ions, if they existed, could be controlled and the method proved to be accurate and with a low detection limit. However, it was found that the presence of soluble humic substances resulted in positive interference, rendering the method unsuitable for bromate determination in natural waters and restricted its use in pure bromate solutions. This interference can be attributed to the electron acceptor groups invariably existing in the humic molecules. Since humic substances can remain in the water even after its ozonation, they will also contribute to a positive interference in bromate determination in potable waters.     

Investigation of the use of thermometric titrimetry for the determination of acidic substances in wine

The use of thermometric titrimetry in the determination of acidic substances in red wine is described. The titration curve obtained in the thermometric titration of red wine with strong base presents two inflections. The stoichiometry corresponding to the first inflection presents good agreement with the so-called "total acidity" of wine, and is proposed for its determination. The second inflection is related to the content of phenolic substances in red wine.     

Microscale functional group analysis of marine and sedimentary humic substances

Methods are described for the microscale analysis of aquatic and sedimentary humic substances for several oxygen-containing functional groups including total acidity, carboxylic and phenolic hydroxyl groups, quinone groups and hydroxamate linkages. Coefficients of variation of the methods range from 4.9 to 12.9%.     

Prediction of Properties of Soil Humic Substances from FTIR Spectra using Partial Least Squares Regression

Abstract

Humic substances (HS) play a key role in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The understanding of the ecological functionalities of HS is based on the analysis of their properties, which is normally a very time-consuming procedure. Therefore we tested the possibility to apply the partial least squares regression (PLSR) method in connection with the mid infrared Fourier transform (FTIR) spectra of a series of soil humic substances for the prediction of different HS properties. The results with humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) fractions of soil HS from different environments show the possibility to predict several properties of an unknown soil HA with satisfying reliability above all the elemental composition.     

Automated Fluorometric Determination of Humic Substances in Natural Water

Abstract

A procedure for automating the analysis of humic substances in natural fresh water samples is described. Thirty samples are analysed per hour in a working range of 0.5 mg/l to 20 mg/l. Significant interferences observed in other methods are eliminated.     

Preparation and separation of mixed-ligand Fe(II) complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione as ligand

The synthesis, separation, and characterization of mixed-ligand iron(II) complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (pdon), and NCS^? are reported. The mixed-ligand complexes [Fe(phen)(pdon)₂]²⁺ and [Fe(phen)₂(pdon)]²⁺ were prepared from iron(II) sulfate hepta hydrate and both ligands. The mixture of both complexes formed regardless the ratio of the ligands or the reaction time; therefore, the complexes were separated successfully on the reversed phase (RP) Develosil RP-Aqueous [C30] 5?µm, 150?×?4.6?mm column by two different methods. The first method was the ion paired RP chromatography performed under gradient elution with acetonitrile–water containing 0.001?mol?L^?1 KPF₆ aqueous as mobile phases. The second method was the RP chromatography performed under gradient elution with methanol and water as mobile phases. The gradient elution with water–methanol as eluents was preferred for the semi preparative separations allowing one to use the complexes without further purification upon separation, different than the first method and its variations so far. Three complexes (5, 6, and 7) were characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR, UV-Vis, and IR.     

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.     

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.     

Flow amperometric determination of carbofuran and fenobucarb

Abstract

The sorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP) onto the aquatic humic matter (HM) for very wide concentration range (60 ng PCP/L - 1 mg PCP/L) was investigated. The binding affinity increased significantly with the acidity of the solution. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) normalized sorption coefficients (log K_OC) of PCP were 3.39 at pH 3, 3.19 at pH 5.5 and 3.01 at pH 7. The binding of PCP took place via a two step binding mechanism: the rapid first step was followed by a second much slower one indicating that the surface of the HM is very heterogeneous containing binding sites with different binding affinities. It was possible to obtain a “fully saturated” HM-PCP adduct (also all possible micro-voids of the HM were occupied) in a very high PCP concentration. The log K_OC value for the whole concentration range was slightly smaller than that obtained under very low PCP concentration level. The Langmuir isotherm was the most suitable for the whole concentration range of PCP, whereas the Freundlich model was the most suitable for the low concentration range of PCP. The dissimilarities between different sorption models were as a whole marginal and thus it is possible without significant loss of information to describe the PCP sorption with a linear model. The results verify that the conventional humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acid type humic solutes of fresh waters account for the main part of the PCP sorption.