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Effects of pollution on humic substances
Summary
Industrial and environmental pollution significantly alters humic substances (HS). Polluted humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) show higher nitrogen, sulfur, and metal content, serving as key pollution indicators.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Soil Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Humic substances (HS), including humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA), are crucial soil and sediment components.
- Understanding the impact of industrial and environmental pollution on HS is vital for environmental monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how industrial and environmental pollution affects the analytical characteristics of humic substances.
- To identify potential indicators of soil and sediment pollution within humic materials.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and purification of humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) from polluted and unpolluted soil/sediment samples.
- Characterization using elemental analysis (C, H, O, N, S, Si), functional group analysis, infrared (IR) spectrophotometry, and differential thermal analysis (DTA).
- Comprehensive metal analysis (Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg, Ca, Mg).
Main Results:
- Polluted HA and FA exhibited elevated levels of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), and various metals compared to unpolluted samples.
- IR spectroscopy revealed increased COO- and SO3H groups in polluted HS, alongside secondary non-cyclic amides.
- DTA indicated enhanced thermal stability in HA and FA from polluted environments.
Conclusions:
- Elevated N, S, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Hg content in humic materials are strong indicators of soil and sediment pollution.
- Pollution alters the chemical composition and functional groups of humic substances, impacting their analytical properties.
- Characterization of humic substances provides valuable insights into environmental contamination levels.