Abstract
Thirteen fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA) isolated from river waters and sediment, marine sediments, leonardite, soils, and paleosol, have been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy in the emission, excitation and, partly, synchronous scan excitation modes. Emission spectra are generally characterized by a unique broad band, whereas excitation spectra exhibit a variable number of peaks or shoulders of various intensity; these peaks are particularly well-resolved for sedimentary HA samples. A decrease in the relative intensity of fluorescence, which is associated with a red-shift (longer wavelengths) of both the emission maximum and the main excitation peaks, is observed when passing from dissolved aquatic and soil FA to river and marine sedimentary HA, to leonardite and soil HA, and, finally, to paleosol HA. Evident differences are shown in the relative intensity and wavelength maxima, measured in any mode, between soil FA and HA from the same source. For FA and HA of various nature and origin, the fluorescence is suggested to be caused by chemically different structural units. These units fluoresce from the blue-violet to the green and consist of variously extended, condensed, aromatic and/or heterocyclic ring systems, with a high degree of electronic conjugation and bearing suitable hydroxyl, alkoxyl and carbonyl groups (e.g. salicyl, cinnamic and hydroxybenzoic derivatives, naphtols, naphtoquinones, coumarin), and quinoline-derivatives, flavonoids and Schiffbase derivatives. Fluorescence properties of humic substances may represent an additional diagnostic criterium useful in distinguishing between FA and HA from the same or various natural sources.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Choudry, G.G. Residue Rev. 92:59 (1984).
Hayase, K. and H. Tsubota. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 49:159 (1985).
Bachelier, G. Cah. O.R.S.T.O.M., ser. Pedol., 18 (2):129 (1980–81).
Ertel, J.R. and J.I. Hedges. In: R. F. Christman and E. T. Gjessing, Eds, Aquatic and Terrestrial Humic Materials, pp. 143–163 (Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Science, 1983)
Ewald, M., C. Belin, P. Berger, and H. Etcheber. In: R.F. Christman and E.T. Gjessing, Eds, Aquatic and Terrestrial Humic Materials, pp. 461–466 (Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Science, 1983).
Miano, T.M., G. Sposito, and J.P. Martin. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52:1016 (1988).
Senesi, N., T.M. Miano, M.R. Provenzano, and G. Brunetti. Sci. Total Environ. 81/82:143 (1989).
Senesi, N. and F. Sakellariadou. Proc. 9th Int. Symp. Environ. Biogeochemistry, Moscow, SSSR, 3–8 September 1989 (In press).
McKnight, D.M., G.L. Feder, E.M. Thurman, R.L. Wershaw, and J.C. Westall. In: R.E. Wildung and E.A. Jenne, Eds, Biological Availability of Trace Metals, pp. 65–76 (New York: Elsevier, 1983).
Senesi, N. In: P. Hills. Ed. Pollution in the Urban Environment, Polmet 88, Vol. 2, pp 607–612 (Hong Kong: Vincent Blue Copy Co. Ltd, 1988).
Senesi, N., G. Sposito, and J.P. Martin. In: T.D. Lekkas, Ed., Heavy Metals in the Environment, pp. 478–480 (Edinburgh: CEP Consultants Ltd, 1985).
Yonebayashy, K. Priv. Comm. (1988).
Calderoni, G. and M. Schnitzer. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 48:2045 (1984).
Chen, Y., N. Senesi, and M. Schnitzer. Geoderma 20:87 (1978).
Visser, S.A. In: R.F. Christman and E.T. Gjessing, Eds, Aquatic and Terrestrial Humic Materials, pp. 183–202 (Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Science, 1983).
Ghosh, K. and M. Schnitzer. Can. J. Soil. Sci. 60:373 (1980).
Larson, R.A. and A.L. Rockwell. Archives Hydrobiol. 89:416 (1980).
Williams, R.T.J. Royal Inst. Chem. 83:611 (1959).
Seitz, W.R. In: P.J. Elving, Ed., Treatise on Analytical Chemistry, Part 1, Theory and Practice, Vol. 7, Sect. H. Optical Methods of Analysis, pp. 159–248 (New York: Wiley, 1981).
Schnitzer, M. and S.U. Khan. Humic Substances in the Environment (New York: Dekker, 1972).
Stevenson, F. J. Humus Chemistry (New York: Wiley, 1982).
Guibalt, G.G. Practical Fluorescence. Theory, Methods and Techniques (New York: Dekker, 1973).
Laane, R.W.P.M. Marine Chem. 15:85 (1984).
Wolfbeis, O.S. In: P.J. and J.P. Winefordner, Eds, Chemical Analysis, Vol. 77, Molecular Luminescence Spectroscopy, Methods and Applications: Part 1, pp. 167–370 (New York: Wiley, 1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer-Verlag
About this paper
Cite this paper
Senesi, N., Miano, T.M., Provenzano, M.R. (1991). Fluorescence spectroscopy as a means of distinguishing fulvic and humic acids from dissolved and sedimentary aquatic sources and terrestrial sources. In: Allard, B., Borén, H., Grimvall, A. (eds) Humic Substances in the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 33. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0010458
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0010458
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-53702-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46985-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive