Humic Substances: Versatile Components of Plants, Soil and Water (Special Publications)

As biomaterials that are of vital importance to the productivity, health and safety of the world's land and water, humic substances are increasingly in the scientific spotlight. However, their structures remain something of a mystery. This book, with its molecular approach, brings the reader right up to date with current research, the key features being advanced analytical methods and physical measurements. Spectroscopic and mass-based approaches, in particular quantitative NMR, are discussed in detail as a means of attempting to understand the structures of these complex substances. Chromatographic techniques, including fluorescent fractionation, are also described. The use of coal-based humic substances for soil enhancement, water purification and soil remediation as an alternative to present methods is explored. Comprehensive, with contributions from international experts, "Humic Substances" will have a broad appeal to researchers in many disciplines, including agricultural and environmental science.

The Study of Humic Substances: In Search of A Paradigm; Humic Substances and Humification; Humification of Duck Farm Wastes; Catalytic Effects of Hydroxy-Aluminum and Silicic Acid on Catechol Humification; Effect of Cover Crop Systems on the Characteristics of Soil Humic Substances; Structural-Group Quantitation by CP/MAS 13C NMR Measurements of Dissolved Organic Matter from Natural Surface Waters; Structural Investigation of Humic Substances Using 2D Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Procedures for the Isolation and Fractionation of Humic Substances; Differences in High Perfomance Size Exclusion Chromatography between Humic Substances and Macromolecular Polymers; Characterization of the 'Fluorescent Fraction' of Soil Humic Acids; Investigations of Humic Materials Aggregation with Scattering Methods; Application of MALDI-TOF-MS to the Characterisation of Fulvic Acids; Sorption of Aqueous Humic Acid to a Test Aquifer Material and Implications for Subsurface Remediation; Validation of a One-Parameter Concept to Elucidate the Absorption of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds into Humic Organic Matter and Bioconcentration Processes; The Interaction between Esfenvalerate and Humic Substances of Different Origin; Adsorption-Desorption Interactions of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors with Humic Acids from Soils and Urban Sludges; Binding of Organic Nitrogen Compounds to Soil Fulvic Acid as Measured by Molecular Fluorescence Spectroscopy; Flow Field-Flow Fractionation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (FLOW-FFF-ICP-MS): A Versatile Approach for Characterization of Trace Metals Complexed to Soil-Derived Humic Acids; EXAFS and XANES Studies of Effects of pH on Complexation of Copper by Humic Substances; Main Conclusions of the EC-Humics Project: "Effects of Humic Substances on the Migration of Radionuclides: Complexation and Transport of Actinides;" Natural Organic Matter from a Norwegian Lake: Possible Structural Changes Resulting from Lake Acidification; Organoclays Remove Humic Substances from Water; Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis Analysis of Coal - Derived Humic Acids Produced from Oxihumolite. A Comparison Study; Analysis and Characterization of a "Standard" Coal Derived Humic Acid; Performance Improvement and Applications of Humasorb-CsTM: A Humic Acid-Based Adsorbent for Contaminated Water Clean Up; Humic Acid Products for Improved Phosphorus Fertilizer Management; Subject Index.