Humic Substances Fractions Research Articles

ESTOQUES DE CARBONO E NITROGÊNIO EM ARGISSOLO SUBMETIDO AO MONOCULTIVO DE <i>Eucalyptus urograndis</i> E EM ROTAÇÃO COM <i>Acacia mangium

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509816607A busca de sistemas sustentáveis de manejo do solo tem levado pesquisadores a desenvolverem novas técnicas de cultivo. Dentre elas, destacam-se no Brasil estudos realizados com espécies florestais capazes de fixar N2 atmosférico e aumentar o estoque de C e N em frações lábeis e estáveis da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar as alterações nos estoques de C e N em frações das substâncias húmicas, da fração leve da MOS e da matéria microbiana em solos cultivados com Eucalyptus urograndis em rotação curta, eucalipto em rotação longa e povoamentos de Acacia mangium que sucederam plantios de eucalipto em rotação curta, tendo como referência o solo de floresta nativa (Mata Atlântica) adjacente. Foram quantificados os estoques de C orgânico total e N total (COT e NT), nas frações das substâncias húmicas (fração ácido fúlvico-AF, fração ácido húmico-AH e fração humina-H), C e N da fração leve da MOS (C-MOL e N-MOL) e estoque de C e N da matéria microbiana (C-BM e N-BM). Os resultados indicaram que o cultivo do eucalipto em rotação curta apresentou menores estoques de COT e NT, nas frações das substâncias húmicas e, de N na matéria microbiana em comparação ao solo sob rotação com Acacia mangium. O cultivo de Acacia mangium e o aumento do tempo da rotação do eucalipto incrementaram os estoques de C e N da maioria das frações lábeis (C-MOL, N-MOL e C-BM) e estáveis (C e N nas substâncias húmicas). Indicando tendência de recuperação dos seus estoques para valores próximos daqueles originais (mata nativa), sendo superiores aos estoques obtidos na área de eucalipto em rotação curta.

Humic substances and their role in migration of metals in the high colored surface waters: The case study of rivers of the Pripyat’ river basin

The results of studies of humic substances and metals in rivers of the Pripyat’ river basin are discussed. It is shown that concentration of these natural organic compounds is within a wide range of values — from 8.9 to 167.7 mg/L (0.4–7.0 mmol C L−1). In river waters of the North Polessye it is above due to the predominance of peat and bog feeding in a forming of their runoff. In river waters of the Western Polesye the concentration of humic substances is in general much lower, but in some rivers it reaches approximately the same quantities as in the Northern Polesye. Humic substances are the predominant group of dissolved organic matter in studied river waters (73.3–88.3% C org). In the humic substance composition the high molecular compounds are dominated. The relative content of fractions with a molecular weight of 5.0–20.0 and > 20.0 kDa is 59.0–82.3% of the total concentration of humic substances. Prevalence of high molecular fraction of humic substances is reflected on their weight average molecular weight (M w), which is within 7.7–10.9 kDa. Humic substances in the high concentration have a significant influence on the behavior, migration and distribution of metals among their coexisting forms. In particular, the proportion of dissolved forms for such metals as iron and aluminum substantial increases because of complexation with humic substances which stabilize them in solution. Copper is found mainly as dissolved form due to complexation with humic substances. The close correlation between the content of titanium dissolved form and concentration of humic substances has not been established. The data on the distribution of metals among the complexes with dissolved organic substances of different chemical nature and also of anionic complexes with humic substances are given.

Celkový obsah uhlíku a kvalita humusových látek u vybraných subtypů kambizemí

Cambisols cover an estimated 45% of agricultural soils in the Czech Republic. We aimed our work at stabile forms of organic carbon and humic substances quality in Cambisols under different types of soil management (grassland and arable soil). Object of our study were the following subtypes of Cambisols: Eutric Cambisol (locality Vatín – arable soil), Eutric Cambisol (locality Vatín – grassland), Haplic Cambisol (locality Náměšť n/Oslavou – arable soil), Leptic Cambisol (locality Ocmanice – grassland), Haplic Cambisol (locality Nové Město na Moravě – arable soil), Haplic Cambisol (locality Přemyslov – Tři Kameny – grassland), Arenic Cambisol (locality Pocoucov – arable soil), Dystric Cambisol (locality Sněžné – arable soil), Dystric Cambisol (locality Velká Skrovnice – arable soil), Dystric Cambisol (locality Vojnův Městec – arable soil). Non-destructive spectroscopic methods such as UV-VIS spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) and 13C NMR spectroscopy for humic substances (HS) quality assessment were used. Total organic carbon (TOC) content was determined by oxidimetric titration. Fractionation of HS was made by short fractionation method. Isolation of pure humic ­acids (HA) preparation was made according to the standard IHSS method.Results showed that TOC and humus content varied from 2.70 % (grassland) to 1.3 % (arable soil). Ave­ra­ge HS sum was 8.4 mg / kg in grassland and 6.4 mg / kg in arable soil. Average HA sum was 3.6 mg / kg in grassland and 3 mg / kg in arable soil. Fulvic acids (FA) content was 4.7 mg / kg in grassland and 3.7 mg / kg in arable soil. HS quality was low and very similar for all studied samples. HA/FA ratio low (< 1). HS absorbance in UV-VIS spectral range was low and similar in all studied samples. Higher absorption in this spectral range was closely connected with higher HS content. Also in 2D-synchronous fluorescence scan spectra similar shape of spectral lines was detected. Relative fluorescence intensity strongly depended on HA and FA content. Five main fluorescence peaks for HA and FA presence at λex./ λem.: 468/488, 482/502, 450/470, 376/396, 340/360 at constant difference of ∆λ=20 nm were measured. 13C NMR spectra of HA isolated from Eutric Cambisol showed low aromaticity degree and high content of aliphatic moieties. HA were young (= less aromatic compounds in HA molecule) and no differences in HA structure were detected to compare arable soil and grassland.

Nutrient accumulation in leaves of Fe-deficient cucumber plants treated with natural Fe complexes

Plants mainly rely on a mixture of Fe complexes with different organic ligands, like carboxylates and soluble fractions of water-extractable humic substances (WEHSs), to sustain the supply of this micronutrient. It has been demonstrated that the Fe-WEHS complex is more efficiently acquired by plant roots as it enhances functionality of the mechanisms involved in Fe acquisition at the root and leaf levels, allowing a faster recovery of the Fe-deficiency symptoms. The aim of this work is to verify whether this recovery involves also the allocation and accumulation of nutrients other than Fe to and within the leaf tissues. Iron-deficient plants treated with Fe-WEHS recovered more quickly the functionality both to uptake nitrate at the root level and to fixate CO2 in the leaves than those supplied with Fe-citrate. Concomitantly, Fe-WEHS-treated plants also accumulated other cationic nutrients faster and at a higher extent. Synchrotron 2D-scanning μ-X-ray fluorescence analyses of the leaves revealed that the recovery promotes a change in the allocation of these nutrients from the vascular system (K, Cu, and Zn) or trichomes (Ca and Mn) to the entire leaf blade. Fe-WEHS treatment efficiently promotes the recovery from Fe-deficiency-induced chlorosis with an enhanced allocation of other nutrients into the leaves and promoting their distribution into the entire leaf blade.

Effects of Molecular Composition of Natural Organic Matter on Ferric Iron Complexation at Circumneutral pH

Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for ferric iron (Fe[III]) complexation by well-characterized humic substances (HS) from various origins were determined by a competitive ligand method with 5-sulfosalicylic acid at circumneutral pH (6.0-8.0) and an ionic strength of ∼0.06 M. The measured Fe binding properties including conditional stability constants and complexation capacities ranged over more than 2 orders of magnitude, depending on the origin and the particular operationally defined fraction of HS examined. Statistical comparison of the complexation parameters to a range of chemical properties of the HS indicated a strong positive correlation between Fe(III) complexation capacity and aromatic carbon content in the HS at all pHs examined. In contrast, the complexation capacity was determined to be up to a few orders of magnitude smaller than the concentration of carboxylic and phenolic groups present. Therefore, specific functional groups including those resident in the proximity of aromatic structures within the HS are likely preferable for Fe(III) coordination under the conditions examined. Overall, our results suggest that the concentration of dissolved Fe(III) complexes in natural waters is substantially influenced by variation in HS characteristics in addition to other well-known factors such as HS concentration and nature and concentration of competing cations present.

Enhanced bacterial decomposition with increasing addition of autochthonous to allochthonous carbon without any effect on bacterial community composition

Abstract. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations – mainly of terrestrial origin – are increasing worldwide in inland waters. Heterotrophic bacteria are the main consumers of DOC and thus determine DOC temporal dynamics and availability for higher trophic levels. Our aim was to study bacterial carbon (C) turnover with respect to DOC quantity and chemical quality using both allochthonous and autochthonous DOC sources. We incubated a natural bacterial community with allochthonous C (13C-labeled beech leachate) and increased concentrations and pulses (intermittent occurrence of organic matter input) of autochthonous C (phytoplankton lysate). We then determined bacterial C consumption, activities, and community composition together with the C flow through bacteria using stable C isotopes. The chemical analysis of single sources revealed differences in aromaticity and low- and high-molecular-weight substance fractions (LMWS and HMWS, respectively) between allochthonous and autochthonous C sources. Both DOC sources (allochthonous and autochthonous DOC) were metabolized at a high bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) around 50%. In treatments with mixed sources, rising concentrations of added autochthonous DOC resulted in a further, significant increase in bacterial DOC consumption of up to 68% when nutrients were not limiting. This rise was accompanied by a decrease in the humic substance (HS) fraction and an increase in bacterial biomass. Changes in DOC concentration and consumption in mixed treatments did not affect bacterial community composition (BCC), but BCC differed in single vs. mixed incubations. Our study highlights that DOC quantity affects bacterial C consumption but not BCC in nutrient-rich aquatic systems. BCC shifted when a mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous C was provided simultaneously to the bacterial community. Our results indicate that chemical quality rather than source of DOC per se (allochthonous vs. autochthonous) determines bacterial DOC turnover.

Comparison of extractable soil carbon and dissolved organic carbon by their molecular characteristics

The aim of this study was to compare the molecular characteristics of extractable soil carbon from biotopes of the Rašeliník watershed and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from Rašeliník creek, by using the 0.1M pyrophosphate, 0.01M CaCl2 and Britton-Robinson buffer as extraction agents. The molecular weight Mr and weight-average molecular weight Mw, determined by the low pressure size exclusion chromatography, increased in the following sequence: humic substances (HS) in CaCl2 < aquatic HS < HS in sodium pyrophosphate ≤ HS in a buffer. Elution curves of all humic substances were characteristic by two peaks with predominant low-molecular fraction. Mr and Mw values of aquatic humic substances were 5.9 and 7.9 kDa, respectively, and proportion of this low-molecular fraction reached 97%. This corresponds to the fact, that the main fraction of HS in surface waters constitute fulvic acids. Using soil extraction in CaCl2 we obtained the fraction of organic carbon similar to the humic substances contain in DOC. Differences in quantity of humic substances extracted from soils among CaCl2 (mean 0.42 ± 0.39), Britton-Robinson buffer (34.9 ± 11.2) and sodium pyrophosphate (293.2 ± 113.4) were statistically significant. The A465/A665 ratio negatively correlated with molecular weight of humic substances.

Carbon Sequestration in Soil Humic Substances Under Long-Term Fertilization in a Wheat-Maize System from North China

The changes in humic substances (HS) is fundamental in detecting soil carbon sequestration mechanisms in natural and cultivated environments. Based on a long-term trial, the amounts of water dissolved substances (WSS), humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and humin (HU) were determined to explore the impact of long-term fertilization on HS. Increases in the amounts of WSS, HA, FA and HU were significant different among the treatments with manure. A significant correlation was found between the increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and HS (R2=0.98, P<0.01). The change in the E4/E6 ratio was significantly correlated with the increased SOC (R2=0.88, P<0.01), HA (R2=0.91, P<0.01), FA (R2=0.91, P<0.01) and HU (R2=0.88, P<0.01). The cluster was mainly divided into two parts as manure fertilization and inorganic fertilization, based on the increases in HA, FA and HU. These results suggest that long term fertilization with manure favours carbon sequestration in HS and is mainly stabilized as HU, while the HA becomes more aliphatic. We conclude that increases in SOC can be linked to changes in the molecular characteristics of HS fractions under long term fertilization.

Dissociation ability of humic acids: Spectroscopic determination of pKa and comparison with multi-step mechanism

Humic acids are operationally defined as the fraction of humic substances which is not soluble under acidic conditions. This, does not mean, however, that their solid particles easily dissolve in water. Experimental results suggest that the dissolving of solid humic acids in an aqueous environment is more complex than the conventional solubility behaviour of sparingly soluble solids. The multi-step mechanism of their interaction with water includes partial equilibrium dissolution as well as direct equilibrium dissociation from the solid state. In this work, the pKa value of the dissolved humic acid fraction was determined on the basis of changes in the shape and intensity of their UV/VIS spectra measured in media with various values of pH. The shape of the spectra depends on the pH value, because acidic and alkaline media, in which these compounds are dissolved, shift their dissociation equilibrium towards non-dissociated molecules or to completely dissociated species. The aim of this work was to characterize the dissociation behaviour of selected humic samples by means of dissociation constants using this method. It was shown that the obtained values of pKa characterize the real dissociation behaviour of humic acids in an aqueous environment and can be used as the mean or effective value of pKa corresponding with the multi-step mechanism of dissociation of humic acids.

Interactions of mercury with different molecular weight fractions of humic substances in aquatic systems

Interactions of mercury (Hg) with different molecular weight fractions of humic substances (HS) play an important role in controlling distribution, diffusion, speciation, and bioavailability of Hg in natural systems. This study suggests that Hg prefers to associate with higher molecular weight fractions of HS and this association particularly predominates at low pH and high ionic strengths of the medium. The concentrations of aggregated HS (with higher molecular weight) become high at lower pH (acidic condition) and high ionic strength. Molecular weight of HS gradually decreases with the increasing pH (basic condition) and low ionic strength of the medium. The disaggregation property of HS which involves the release of monomers from the surface of the aggregates produces HSs of different intermediate molecular weight with different Hg complexing capacity. Distribution of Hg in different molecular weight fractions of HS is dependent on aggregational and disaggregational properties of HS in aquatic medium. Association of Hg with high molecular weight fraction of HS may alter distribution and bioavailability of Hg in a system as the bioreactivity of organic matter decrease along a continuum of size in aquatic medium.

富营养化湖泊溶解性有机碳生物可利用性研究进展

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 富营养化湖泊溶解性有机碳生物可利用性研究进展 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201209241349 作者: 作者单位: 南通大学地理科学学院,中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所湖泊与环境国家重点实验室,中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金资助项目（41201076，31270507，31070420）；湖泊与环境国家重点实验室开放基金资助项目（2012SKL006） The bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon in the eutrophic lakes Author: Affiliation: Geographical Sciences College,Nantong University,State key Laboratory of Lake Environment Science,Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,State key Laboratory of Lake Environment Science,Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology,Chinese Academy of Sciences Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:富营养化湖泊溶解性有机碳（DOC）包括内源和外源性碳源，不同来源碳源在物质化学结构组成和分子量级等方面具有显著差异，进而影响到对细菌的生物可利用性和碳素在食物网中的传递效率。根据国内外文献，综述了内外源DOC在碳稳定同位素值域上的显著差异，建议通过对DOC碳稳定同位素的分析来识别富营养化湖泊中DOC的主要来源；通过对比内外源DOC在碳水化合物、结合态中性糖和腐殖质含量上的差异，并结合细菌生长参数如细菌二级生产力、细菌呼吸作用及细菌生长效率来分析内外源DOC对细菌的生物可利用性。从富营养化湖泊DOC来源的角度探讨其生物可利用性和碳素传递效率，有助于了解富营养化湖泊食物网中碳素循环特征，加强对湖泊生态学的认识，为湖泊环境治理与保护提供科学依据。 Abstract:The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool is composed of both autochthonous and allochthonous DOC, and its concentration in lakes generally increases with the trophic status. Accumulation of the autochthonous DOC was observed in the eutrophic lake, and the allochthonous DOC was highest in the dystrophic lake. Carbohydrates constitute a large component of the DOC, the consumption of DOC by heterotrophic bacteria is one of the largest fluxes of carbon in most aquatic ecosystems, but the bioavailability and the efficiency of carbon transfer in lakes food web is affected by the distribution of molecular weight and chemical composition. The DOC can be separated into high and low molecular weight DOC fractions by cross-flow ultrafiltration, but which fraction is more bioreactive is still in dispute.Stable carbon isotope can be used to trace the origins of organic carbon, and the approach depends on the fact that DOC from different origins has different stable isotopic compositions. The riverine DOC has a δ13C value of -27‰, which is different from freshwater phytoplankton, with a range from -35‰ to -25‰. This paper reviewed the researches on the stable carbon isotope ratio of the autochthonous and allochthonous DOC, suggesting that the main sources of DOC in eutrophic lakes can be identified by using natural stable carbon isotope ratio of DOC; the difference on the total dissolved carbohydrates (TCHO) and dissolved combined neutral sugar (DCNS) concentrations, as well as the humic substances (HS) was compared between the autochthonous and allochthonous DOC. Net increases in TCHO and DCNS were observed in the autochthonous DOC during phytoplankton blooms, whereas the HS fraction was quantitatively important in the allochthonous DOC. Many studies have reported the bacterial availability of TCHO and DCNS, and the ratio of TCHO/DOC is used to characterize the bioavailability of DOC, whereas HS can also increase bacterial secondary production and support bacterial growth if labile substrates are abundant.Furthermore, to elucidate the bioavailability of the two sources of DOC, the bacterial secondary production, bacterial respiration and bacteria growth efficiency (BGE) was analyzed together. The DOC can be either transformed to bacterial secondary production or respired to inorganic carbon. BGE is the fraction of assimilated organic carbon that supports growth. The source of DOC and its chemical composition could be a key regulator of BGE. Traditionally, the autochthonous DOC has been considered to be the main source for bacterial as well as other secondary production, the allochthonous DOC was long considered relatively recalcitrant to bacterial degradation. However, in lakes which are both humic-rich and oligotrophic, the ecosystem respiration exceeds gross primary production, suggesting that the allochthonous DOC can be incorporated into the bacteria biomass and makes a significant carbon and energy subsidy for lakes food web, but little of the allochthonous carbon assimilated by bacteria is likely to reach higher consumers. Recent studies suggest that bacterial BGE increases with the concentration of the low molecular weight DOC in allochthonous DOC.Discussing the bioavailability and efficiency of carbon transfer in the food web from the sources of DOC, will be helpful to investigate the characterization of carbon cycling in the eutrophic lakes, enhance our understanding of the lake ecology and to provide scientific references for the lake management and protection. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Changes in the organic matter of taiga soils during the natural reafforestation after cutting in the middle taiga of the Komi Republic

It has been shown that the distribution features of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions of humic substances (HSs) in the upper genetic horizons of undisturbed podzolic soils and lithobarrier podzols are similar. The concentrations of the separate HS fractions in the mineral horizons are largely determined by the soil mineralogy. In forest litters of secondary phytocenoses developed after the cutting of spruce forests, an increase in the content of hydrophilic compounds has been observed on loamy deposits at a decrease in the portion of ligninlike organic compounds. An in crease in the portion of AlFe-humus compounds has been revealed in the mineral soil horizons of secondary phytocenoses. It has been proposed to use the degree of hydrophilicity ( DH) for characterizing the features of the organic matter in taiga soils. An increase in the content of the fractions of occluded organic matter and that bound to minerals (density of 1.6-2.2 g/cm 3 ) has been observed in the eluvial horizons of a young cutover area.

Humic substances in surface waters of the Ukraine

The results of studies of humic substances in water bodies of different types (lakes, rivers, and reservoirs) are given. It is shown that concentration of these natural organic compounds varies in a wide range of values (from 1.2 to 126.5 mg L−1) due to different sources of their formation. The highest concentrations of humic substances are characteristic for rivers of the Pripyat’ River basin flowing through the wetland. As we move from the north to the south, the content of humic substances is reduced. So, in the Kakhovka Reservoir, closing the Dnieper cascade of reservoirs, the concentration of humic substances is almost thrice as low as in the Kiev Reservoir, which is at the head of the cascade. Seasonal changes of humic substances concentration and the reasons for these changes are discussed. The prevailing fraction in the composition of humic substances is represented by fulvic acids, the content of which reaches 80.8–94.8% of the total. The results of studies of the molecular weight distribution of humic substances and the reasons for changes in the ratio of their individual fractions, depending on the detection method (spectrophotometric and fluorescence methods), are considered. The values of the number average (M n) and weight average (M w) molecular weight of humic substances and the degree of polydispersity are calculated. It is shown that M w varies seasonally. In spring and summer it is lower, but significantly increased in autumn. The reason for this phenomenon is degradation of high-molecular fractions of humic substances under the influence of UV light of solar radiation and increased microbiological activity during the summer season. As a result of these processes high-molecular fractions of humic substances are transformed into fractions with lower molecular weight, which become predominant.

BDE-209: Kinetic Studies and Effect of Humic Substances on Photodegradation in Water

BDE-209 is a brominated flame retardant and a priority contaminant, which has been found in several environmental matrices, namely, in water. To date, there are no quantum yield data for BDE-209 photodegradation by sunlight in water, to allow predicting half-life times in aquatic systems. In this work, the kinetics of BDE-209 photodegradation in water was studied and the influence of different fractions of aquatic humic substances (HS) was evaluated. Aqueous solutions of BDE-209 exposed for different periods of time to simulated sunlight were analyzed by HPLC-UV after being concentrated using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) or solid-phase extraction (SPE). The photodegradation of BDE-209 in aqueous solution followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The average quantum yield obtained of 0.010 ± 0.001 (about 20-fold lower than the quantum yield determined in ethanol) allow to predict an outdoor half-life time of 3.5 h. The photodegradation percentage of BDE-209 was not significantly affected by the XAD-4 fraction of HS, but it decreased substantially in the presence of humic and fulvic acids. Light screening by the humic substances could not explain this delay, which is probably the result of the association of the compound with the hydrophobic sites of the humic material.

The impact of humic and fulvic acids on the dynamic properties of liposome membranes: the ESR method

This paper presents the results of research on the influence of two fractions of humic substances (HS): fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA), as a function of concentration, on the liposome membranes formed from egg yolk lecithin (EYL). The concentration of HS in relation to EYL changed from 0% to 10% by weight. The influence of HS on various areas of membranes: interphase water-lipid, in the lipid layer just below the polar part of the membrane and in the middle of the lipid bilayer, was investigated by different spin labels (TEMPO, DOXYL 5, DOXYL 16). The study showed that HA slightly decreased the fluidity of the analyzed membranes on the surface layer, while FA significantly liquidated the center of the lipid bilayer. The strong effect of both fractions of HS on the concentration of free radicals as a function of time was also described.

A two-step thermochemolysis for soil organic matter analysis. Application to lipid-free organic fraction and humic substances from an ombrotrophic peatland

A two-step off-line thermochemolysis was developed to characterize successively free and bound compounds in humic fractions from a wooded Sphagnum-dominated mire peat (Frasne, Jura Mountains, France). Two reactants with different strengths were used: hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) followed by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Analysis of the thermolysates showed obvious differences between the two steps regarding the nature and/or the distribution of the numerous identified products. The first step with HMDS revealed the occurrence of thermolabile compounds and/or molecular units occurring initially in (bio)polymers susceptible to be cracked by HMDS, mostly carbohydrates and aromatics. The second step with TMAH released products resulting from the cracking of units with a relatively high thermal and/or chemical stability (monomers from biopolymers such as lignin and cutins, suberins or waxes). Two-step thermochemolysis thus appears as an interesting tool to help deciphering the composition, origin and nature of soil and sediment organic matter. Moreover, the comparison of the three humic substances fractions (fulvic acids, humic acids and humin) shows that a part of the analyzed compounds (lipids, aromatic and carbohydrates) were lost during this chemical fractionation.

Isolation and characterization of humic substances‐degrading bacteria from the subarctic Alaska grasslands

Humic substances (HS), an important fraction of soil organic carbon, are distributed widely throughout cold environments. A total of cold-adapted 122 bacterial strains were isolated from 66 Alaska grassland soil samples based on their ability to grow on humic acids (HA), a main fraction of HS, as a carbon and energy source. These isolates were identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with class Bacilli (79.5%) and γ-Proteobacteria (17.1%) comprising the largest groups. Among them, 45 strains, mainly Paenibacillus (27 strains) and Pseudomonas (15 strains), were selected for further screening. Two strains (Pseudomonas sp. PAMC 26793 and Paenibacillus sp. PAMC 26794) most efficiently degraded HA, but showed significant differences in their ability to grow on various monocyclic aromatics, which are putative degradative metabolites of HS. Fourier transform infrared spectra also showed substantial but different changes in HA chemical structure after incubation with each strain. Gel permeation chromatography demonstrated that depolymerization and polymerization of HA occurred during HS degradation by these newly isolated microbes.

Substâncias húmicas e suas relações com o grau de subsidência em Organossolos de diferentes ambientes de formação no Brasil

A matéria orgânica do solo é parte de um sistema dinâmico influenciado por vários fatores, incluindo clima, conteúdo e natureza das argilas, uso da terra, sistemas de manejo e drenagem, os quais afetam as taxas de adição e os processos de transformações e evolução dos compostos orgânicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar e avaliar a distribuição das frações húmicas em Organossolos de diferentes ambientes e regiões do Brasil, relacionando-os com os processos de subsidência. O teor de carbono (C) nas substâncias húmicas indicou predomínio do C da fração ácido húmico (C-FAH de 22,1 g kg-1 a 153,7 g kg-1) nos solos de regiões altimontanas e ambientes de planalto. Possivelmente, o clima mais frio, aliado a uma melhor fertilidade, favoreceu a formação desta fração em detrimento das frações ácido fúlvico e humina. Por outro lado, o maior teor de ácidos húmicos torna os Organossolos nesses ambientes mais susceptíveis aos processos de subsidência, principalmente quando manejados para agricultura. Já nos ambientes de várzeas e de planícies litorâneas, houve maior formação do C da fração humina (C-HUM de 79,2 a 267,2 g kg-1), que é a fração das substâncias húmicas mais resistente à decomposição. O somatório das frações húmicas representou 89% do carbono total, estando essas duas variáveis altamente correlacionadas. A relação Extrato alcalino humina (EA/HUM) agrupou classes de Organossolos pelo ambiente de formação, sendo sugerida como atributo diagnóstico nos níveis inferiores do Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos (SiBCS), possibilitando diferenciar os Organossolos quanto ao potencial de subsidência.

Soil humic acid aggregation by dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler electrophoresis

AbstractHumic acids (HAs), similar to other fractions of humic substances (HSs), have a large number of reactive functional groups enabling them to aggregate in solutions. Regardless of the origin of humic acid (aqueous or soil), this aggregation process is dependent on environmental conditions and strongly influences the mobility of soluble ionic and molecular pollutants. The aim of this work was to monitor the aggregation process of two humic acids isolated from different mineral soils (IHSS Elliot soil HA standard and Rendzic Leptosol HA) in the 2–11 pH range. Changes in aggregate size in HA sols were followed up using dynamic light scattering (DLS), while zeta potential (ZP) measurements in the same pH range were performed applying laser Doppler electrophoresis (LDE) technique. The effect of HA sol concentration and soil source on aggregation was examined as well. Besides, HA samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. By inspecting HA‐particle‐size dependence on pH, it can be concluded that both HAs in corresponding sols behave as molecular aggregates or supramolecular structures, formed from small individual moieties (sizes &lt; 10 nm) at higher pH values. The ZP vs. pH curve for both HAs revealed the ZP minimum in the 5–7 pH range, caused most likely by dissociation of acidic functional groups prevailing at lower pH values and deaggregation predominating over dissociation at higher pH values.

Determination of specific types and relative levels of QPCR inhibitors in environmental water samples using excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy and PARAFAC

Assays that utilize PCR offer powerful tools to detect pathogens and other microorganisms in environmental samples. However, PCR inhibitors present in nucleic acid extractions can increase a sample's limit of detection, skew calculated marker concentrations, or cause false-negative results. It would be advantageous to predict which samples contain various types and levels of PCR inhibitors, especially the humic and fulvic acids that are frequently cited as PCR inhibitors in natural water samples. This study investigated the relationships between quantitative PCR (qPCR) inhibition and the humic and fulvic content of dissolved organic matter (DOM), as well as several other measures of DOM quantity and quality, in water samples. QPCR inhibition was also compared to water quality parameters, precipitation levels, and land use adjacent to the sampling location. Results indicate that qPCR inhibition in the tested water samples was correlated to several humic substance-like, DOM components, most notably terrestrially-derived, humic-like DOM and microbially-derived, fulvic-like DOM. No correlation was found between qPCR inhibition and water quality parameters or land use, but a relationship was noted between inhibition and antecedent rainfall. This study suggests that certain fractions of humic substances are responsible for PCR inhibition from temperate, freshwater systems. PARAFAC modeling of excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy provides insight on the components of the DOM pool that impact qPCR success and may be useful in evaluating methods to remove PCR inhibitors present in samples.