A contribution to the knowledge of humic substances in peat waters

Abstract

SummaryFollowing a brief description of the present views on the chemical structure of humic acids some results were given, obtained during the investigation of humic substances appearing in the peat waters of Czechoslovakia: 1. A new method for humic substances isolation was developed, based on butanolic extraction of the acidified substrate, concentration of the extract, and separation of the purified preparation of humic acids with every step made at normal temperature.2. A new extraction method for humic acids determination in peat waters was developed and verified on about 150 different samples collected from the peat water regions of Czechoslovakia.3. Only two types of humic substances were found in the peat waters of Czechoslovakia, i. e. humates of alkaline metals or free acids, and humates of alkaline earth and other metals. As high as 600 mg/l of humic substances were found in the most concentrated natural peat water sources (pools, drainages etc.), this amount decreasing to some units of mg/I found in streams coming from the peat areas.4. Five points were presented proving the similarity of humic acids and their common properties, based on the analysis of 150 peat water samples of different origin.