Pyrolysis GC-MS and NMR studies of humics in contaminated sediments
- Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
- National Inst. for Medical Research, London (United Kingdom)
Sediment ``humics`` play a major role in sorption and chemical reactions of organic and metal pollutants, as well as of nutrients, detritus, and other naturally-occurring chemicals. Not surprisingly, the chemical structure of humics is very important in this regard. The problem is, humics are among the most complex and least-understood substances in the world. This is because the primary structure is heterologous, unlike most other macromolecules which are polymeric; thus, researchers could not obtain coherent structures to identify with properties. However, recent advances in NMR spectroscopy and pyrolysis GC-MS have enabled researchers to begin relating primary and higher order structural motifs germane to the chemistry of the refractory humics. The authors have explored various means of sediment extraction for humics analysis by these techniques, including direct analysis of unextracted sediments. Marine sediments from near produced water discharges, salt marshes, and dredge material were surveyed. The study has revealed interpretive pitfalls, depending on the method of humic extraction. These difficulties are expected since the approach is at its infancy, but the overall approach is clearly useful in probing the humic structure profile of marine sediments.
- OSTI ID:
- 37484
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9519%%408
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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