Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
12:55
Quantification of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Humate Ores, DOC, Humified Materials and Humic Substance-Containing Commercial Products
Published on: March 18, 2022
Influence of oxidation on fulvic acids composition and biodegradability
Ivan Kozyatnyk1, Joanna Świetlik, Ursula Raczyk-Stanisławiak
1Institute of Colloid Chemistry and Chemistry of Water, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 42 Vernadsky Avenue, Kyiv 03680, Ukraine. ivan.kozyatnyk@chem.umu.se
Chemosphere
|June 11, 2013
Summary
Ozonation effectively transforms fulvic acids into a more biodegradable form, increasing biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) by creating organic acids and aldehydes. This makes ozonation the preferred method for pre-treating fulvic acids before biofiltration.
Area of Science:
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Environmental Chemistry
- Organic Geochemistry
Background:
- Natural organic matter (NOM) in drinking water requires oxidation for treatment.
- Common oxidants include chlorine, ozone, and chlorine dioxide.
- Fulvic acids (FA) are a significant component of NOM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different oxidants (chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide) on FA.
- To analyze changes in biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) and molecular weight distribution (MWD).
- To assess disinfection by-product formation and FA transformation.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of FA with varying doses of chlorine, ozone, and chlorine dioxide.
- Analysis of BDOC content.
- Molecular weight distribution (MWD) analysis of FA.
- Monitoring of disinfection by-product formation.
Main Results:
- Chlorination showed minimal impact on FA MWD and by-product formation, with potential for chlorine substitution.
- Chlorine dioxide exhibited stronger oxidation of FA compared to chlorine.
- Ozonation significantly increased BDOC by generating organic acids and aldehydes, enhancing FA biodegradability.
Conclusions:
- Ozonation is the most effective oxidant for increasing FA biodegradability among the studied methods.
- Ozonation transforms FA into a more biodegradable form, suitable for pre-treatment before biofiltration.
- Understanding oxidant effects on FA is crucial for optimizing drinking water treatment processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Oxidations of Aldehydes and Ketones to Carboxylic Acids
Oxidation of aldehydes and ketones results in the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, bearing hydrogen next to the carbonyl group, are easily oxidized compared to ketones. This is because an aldehydic proton can easily be abstracted during oxidation.
Aldehydes readily undergo oxidation in strong oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate and chromic acid. The oxidation can also be carried out using mild oxidizing agents such as silver oxide. In fact, aldehydes can be easily oxidized...
Aldehydes readily undergo oxidation in strong oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate and chromic acid. The oxidation can also be carried out using mild oxidizing agents such as silver oxide. In fact, aldehydes can be easily oxidized...
01:19Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
Energy production within a cell involves many coordinated chemical pathways. Most of these pathways are combinations of oxidation and reduction reactions, which occur at the same time. An oxidation reaction strips an electron from an atom in a compound, and the addition of this electron to another compound is a reduction reaction. Because oxidation and reduction usually occur together, these pairs of reactions are called redox reactions.
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
01:20Radical Autoxidation
The oxidation of an organic compound in the presence of air or oxygen is called autoxidation. For example, cumene reacts with oxygen to form hydroperoxide. Autoxidation involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Many organic compounds are susceptible to autoxidation—especially ethers in the presence of oxygen, which form hydroperoxides. Even though this reaction is slow, old ether bottles contain small amounts of peroxide, which leads to laboratory explosions during ether...
01:28Biodeterioration
Biodeterioration refers to the unwanted alteration of materials caused by microorganisms—especially fungi—which damage both organic substrates (paper, wood, textiles) and inorganic ones (stone, plaster, glass). Unlike abiotic decay, biodeterioration results from biological activity that produces physical disruption and chemical degradation.Physical deterioration occurs as fungal hyphae penetrate pores, cracks, and surface irregularities. Hyphal turgor pressure, thigmotropic growth along...
01:17Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
In the presence of oxidizing agents, phenols are oxidized to quinones. Quinones can be easily reduced back to phenols using mild reducing agents. The electron-donating hydroxyl group enhances the reactivity of the aromatic ring, enabling oxidation of the ring even in the absence of an α hydrogen.
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
02:37Oxidation of Alcohols
In this lesson, the oxidation of alcohols is discussed in depth. The various reagents used for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols are detailed, and their mechanism of action is provided.
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms: