Structural response of humic acid upon binding with lead: A spectroscopic insight

Lead (Pb) is a widespread heavy metal that can cause damage to the ecosystem, and the ubiquitously existing dissolved organic matter (DOM) can significantly affect the environmental behavior of Pb. The present work explores the interaction process of Pb with humic acid (HA) through integration of synchronous fluorescence and log-transformed UV-vis absorption spectroscopy coupled with spectral slope calculation and two-dimensional correlation analyses. The spectral slope calculation results show that the carboxylic and phenolic groups in HA were the predominant binding sites to Pb, and the interaction process was highly dependent on solution pH. Correlation analyses confirmed a superior binding affinity of carboxylic groups in HA over phenolic groups. Integration of spectral slope calculation with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy is a promising tool for better understanding the molecular structure of Pb-DOM complexes and the characteristics of Pb binding to DOM, which may provide new insights into the prevention, control, and remediation of Pb contamination in environment.