Increased conformational rigidity of humic substances by oxidative biomimetic catalysis

A synthetic water-soluble meso-tetra(2,6-dichloro-3-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinate of iron(III) chloride, Fe(TDCPPS)Cl, was employed as a biomimetic catalyst in the oxidative coupling of terrestrial humic materials. High-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS-(13)C NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) were used to follow conformational and structural changes brought about in different humic materials by the oxidative coupling. Increase in apparent weight-average molecular weight (Mw(a)) occurred invariably for all humic substances with the oxidative polymerization catalyzed by Fe(TDCPPS)Cl. HPSEC further showed that the polymerization reaction turned the loosely bound humic supramolecular structures into more stable conformations which could no longer be disrupted by the disaggregating effect of acetic acid. DRIFT spectroscopy suggested the formation of new alkyl and aromatic ethers following the oxidative coupling with the biomimetic catalyst. CPMAS-(13)C NMR and EPR spectra suggested a reduced molecular mobility of humic components and enhanced stabilization of free radicals in larger oxidized fragments. All findings concur in indicating that the biomimetic catalysis by Fe(TDCPPS)Cl increased the molecular mass and chemical rigidity of humic materials by formation of intermolecular covalent bonds via a free-radical mechanism. The development of a technology based on oxidative polymerization by biomimetic catalysis may be of importance in controlling the properties and reactivity of humic matter for industrial and environmental applications.