The reaction of ozone with isolated aquatic fulvic acid

Aquatic fulvic acid, isolated from a North Carolina bay lake, was reacted with ozone, an alternative oxidant in drinking water treatment. Ozonated samples were acidified, extracted with ether, dried, concentrated, and methylated prior to GC-MS analysis. Identified reaation products include mono-, di- and tribasic aliphatic acids and benzene tricarboxylic acids. The products with the highest relative concentrations were succinic and malonic acid, although all products were at relatively low concentration levels. Many of the products identified in this study have also been seen among the reaction products of fulvic acid and other oxidants, such as Cl₂, CIO₂ and KMnO₄.