Abstract
Insight in the molecular structure of humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) can contribute to identify relationships between their molecular properties, and further our quantitative abilities to model important organic matter functions such as metal complexation and association with mineral surfaces. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is used to compare the molecular composition of HA and FA. A systematic comparison was obtained by using samples from different environmental sources, including solid and aqueous samples from both natural and waste sources. The chemical signature of the pyrolysates was highly variable and no significant difference between HA and FA was found for major chemical groups, that is, carbohydrates, phenols, benzenes, and lignin phenols, together accounting for 62-96% of all quantified pyrolysis products. However, factor analysis showed that within each sample, FAs consistently differed from corresponding HAs in a larger contribution from mono- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic hydrocarbons, together accounting for 3.9-44.5% of the quantified pyrolysis products. This consistent difference between FAs and corresponding HAs, suggests that their binding properties may, in addition to the carboxyl and phenolic groups, be influenced by the molecular architecture. Py-GC-MS may thus contribute to identify relationships between HA and FA binding- and molecular-properties.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 1330-1339 |
| Journal | Environmental Science and Technology |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Fingerprint
Cite this
}
Molecular Features of Humic Acids and Fulvic Acids from Contrasting Environments. / Schellekens, Judith; Buurman, Peter; Kalbitz, Karsten; van Zomeren, Andre; Vidal-Torrado, Pablo; Cerli, Chiara; Comans, Rob N.J.
In: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 51, No. 3, 2017, p. 1330-1339.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular Features of Humic Acids and Fulvic Acids from Contrasting Environments
AU - Schellekens, Judith
AU - Buurman, Peter
AU - Kalbitz, Karsten
AU - van Zomeren, Andre
AU - Vidal-Torrado, Pablo
AU - Cerli, Chiara
AU - Comans, Rob N.J.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Insight in the molecular structure of humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) can contribute to identify relationships between their molecular properties, and further our quantitative abilities to model important organic matter functions such as metal complexation and association with mineral surfaces. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is used to compare the molecular composition of HA and FA. A systematic comparison was obtained by using samples from different environmental sources, including solid and aqueous samples from both natural and waste sources. The chemical signature of the pyrolysates was highly variable and no significant difference between HA and FA was found for major chemical groups, that is, carbohydrates, phenols, benzenes, and lignin phenols, together accounting for 62-96% of all quantified pyrolysis products. However, factor analysis showed that within each sample, FAs consistently differed from corresponding HAs in a larger contribution from mono- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic hydrocarbons, together accounting for 3.9-44.5% of the quantified pyrolysis products. This consistent difference between FAs and corresponding HAs, suggests that their binding properties may, in addition to the carboxyl and phenolic groups, be influenced by the molecular architecture. Py-GC-MS may thus contribute to identify relationships between HA and FA binding- and molecular-properties.
AB - Insight in the molecular structure of humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) can contribute to identify relationships between their molecular properties, and further our quantitative abilities to model important organic matter functions such as metal complexation and association with mineral surfaces. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is used to compare the molecular composition of HA and FA. A systematic comparison was obtained by using samples from different environmental sources, including solid and aqueous samples from both natural and waste sources. The chemical signature of the pyrolysates was highly variable and no significant difference between HA and FA was found for major chemical groups, that is, carbohydrates, phenols, benzenes, and lignin phenols, together accounting for 62-96% of all quantified pyrolysis products. However, factor analysis showed that within each sample, FAs consistently differed from corresponding HAs in a larger contribution from mono- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic hydrocarbons, together accounting for 3.9-44.5% of the quantified pyrolysis products. This consistent difference between FAs and corresponding HAs, suggests that their binding properties may, in addition to the carboxyl and phenolic groups, be influenced by the molecular architecture. Py-GC-MS may thus contribute to identify relationships between HA and FA binding- and molecular-properties.
U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.6b03925
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6b03925
M3 - Article
VL - 51
SP - 1330
EP - 1339
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
T2 - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 3
ER -