Oxygen-containing functional groups in land-derived humic acids—II. Changes in the oxygen distribution of humic acids during early diagenesis as revealed by derivatization methods

Abstract

Extensive functional group analyses were performed on humic acids representative of eight increasing depth levels from a core drilled in the Mahakam delta (East Kalimantan, Indonesia). Oxygen amounts decrease observed during early diagenesis was related chiefly to loss of hydroxyl (lignol?) groups. Comparison between upper and deeper levels shows the following variations: hydroxyl group abundances go from 19 to 6% of humic oxygen. Identified functional groups amounts represent 47 to 32% of weight of moisture- and ash-free humic acids. No evidence of decarboxylation of humic material was detected.