Effects of pollution on humic substances

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/03601238009372194· OSTI ID:5929140

Schnitzer, M; Kerndorff, H

To assess effects of industrial and environmental pollution on analytical characteristics of humic substances, humic acids (HA's) and fulvic acids (FA's) were isolated from unpolluted and polluted soils and sediments. Following purification, the HA's and FA's were characterized by elemental (C, H, O, N, S) and functional group (D/sub 2/H/sub 2/ phenolic OH, total acidity) analyses, infrared (ir) spectrophotometry, difFerential thermal analysis (DTA) and by metal (Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg, Ca and Mg) analyses. Si was also determined in all samples. Polluted HA's and FA's contained more N and S but less 0 and were richer in all metals and Si than were unpolluted ones. Infrared spectra showed that polluted humic materials were enriched in COO- groups, secondary non-cyclic amides and possible also in SO/sub 3/H groups. DTA curves indicated that polluted HA's and FA's were more thermostable than unpolluted HA's and FA's. Unusually high N, S, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Hg contents of humic materials appear to be useful indicators of soil and sediment pollution.

• Research Organization: Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5929140
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part B; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part B; (United States) Vol. 15:4; ISSN JPFCD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CADMIUM
CARBON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMIUM
COPPER
ELEMENTS
FULVIC ACIDS
HUMIC ACIDS
HYDROGEN
LAND POLLUTION
LEAD
MERCURY
METALS
MONITORING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
SOILS
SULFUR
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC