Sources of sedimentary humic substances: vascular plant debris

A modern Washington continental shelf sediment was fractionated densimetrically using either an organic solvent, CBrCl₃, or aqueous ZnCl₂. The resulting low density materials (<2.06 g/ml) account for only 1% of the sediment mass but contain 25% of the sedimentary organic carbon and 53% of the lignin. The C/N ratios (30–40) and lignin phenol yields ($\text{Λ = 8}$) and compositions indicate that the low density materials are essentially pure vascular plant debris which is slightly enriched in woody (versus nonwoody) tissues compared to the bulk sediment. The low density materials yield approximately one-third of their organic carbon as humic substances and contribute 23% and 14% of the total sedimentary humic and fulvic acids, respectively. Assuming that the lignin remaining in the sedimentary fraction is also contained in plant fragments that yield similar levels of humic substances, then 50% and 30% of the total humic and fulvic acids, respectively, arise directly from plant debris.Base-extraction of fresh and naturally degraded vascular plant materials reveals that significant levels of humic and fulvic acids are obtained using classical extraction techniques. Approximately 1–2% of the carbon from fresh woods and 10–25% from leaves and bark were isolated as humic acids and 2–4 times those levels as fulvic acids. A highly degraded hardwood yielded up to 44% of its carbon as humic and fulvic acids. The humic acids from fresh plants are generally enriched in lignin components relative to carbohydrates and recognizable biochemicals account for up to 50% of the total carbon. Humic and fulvic acids extracted directly from sedimentary plant debris could be responsible for a major fraction of the biochemical component of humic substances.     

Source indicators of humic substances and proto-kerogen. Stable isotope ratios,elemental compositions and electron spin resonance spectra

Stable isotope ratios of C, N and H, elemental compositions and electron spin resonance (ESR) data of humic acids and proto-kerogens from twelve widely varying sampling locations are presented. Humic acids and proto-kerogens from algal sources are more aliphatic and higher in N than those from higher plant sources. Oxygen content appears to represent a measure of maturation, even in Recent sediments and S content may reflect redox conditions in the environment of deposition. The ESR data indicate that the transformation of humic substances to proto-kerogens in Recent sediments is accompanied by an increase in aromatic character. A combination of δ¹³C and $\text{H}\text{C}$ ratio may be a simple but reliable source indicator which allows differentiation of marine-derived from terrestrially-derived organic matter. The δ¹⁵N values are useful indicators of nitrogen nutrient source. Deuterium/hydrogen isotope ratios appear to reflect variations in meteoric waters and are not reliable source indicators.     

The ionization of acids in estuarine waters

The stoichiometric, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}{}^1$, and apparent, K'_HA, constants for the ionization of a number of weak acids (NH₄⁺, HSO₄^?, HF, H₂O, B(OH)₃, H₂CO₃, HCO₃^?, H₃PO₄, H₂PO₄^?, HPO₄², H₃AsO₄ H₂AsO₄^? and HAsO₄^2?) in seawater at 25°C diluted with water have been fitted to equations of the form (Millero, 1979). In $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}{}^1\text{= In K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}\text{+ AS}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{+ BS}$ where In K_HA is the thermodynamic constant in water, S is the salinity, A and B are adjustable parameters. The validity of this equation in estuarine waters has been examined by using an ion pairing model (Millero and Schreiber, 1981). The calculated values of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}{}^1$ and K'_HA at S = 35%. are in good agreement with the measured values for all the systems examined. The equation used to extrapolate the measured values to pure water K_HA predicted values that agreed with those determined by using the ion pairing model. The exception was the ionization of HPO₄^2? due to the strong interactions of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ with PO₄^3?. The differences in the predicted values of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}{}^1$ in seawater diluted with pure water and average river water were very small for all the acids except HPO₄^2? (the maximum ΔpK = 0.96 in average river water). The larger difference in the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{HA}}{}^1$ for HPO₄^2? in river waters is due to the strong interactions of Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3?.     

Deuterium NMR characterization of noncovalent interactions between monoaromatic compounds and fulvic acids

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (²H-NMR) spin–lattice relaxation (T₁) experiments were used to measure noncovalent interactions between deuterated monoaromatic compounds (phenol-d₅, pyridine-d₅, benzene-d₆) and fulvic acids isolated from the Suwannee River and Big Soda Lake. Noncovalent interactions, in aqueous solution, were examined as a function of monoaromatic hydrocarbon functional groups, fulvic acid concentration and identity, and solution pH. Phenol did not exhibit noncovalent interactions with either fulvic acid at any pH. Pyridine, in a pH range from 3 to 8, interacted with Suwannee River fulvic acid, forming a bond involving the lone pair of electrons on nitrogen. Conversely, no interactions were observed between pyridine and Big Soda Lake fulvic acid; the difference in noncovalent interactions is attributed to the structural and chemical differences of the two fulvic acids. The translational and rotational molecular motion of benzene increased in the presence of both fulvic acids, indicating that in aqueous solution, fulvic acids solubilize benzene rather than forming discrete bonds as with pyridine. The results of this study demonstrate that monoaromatic functional groups, solution pH, and identity and concentration of fulvic acid can influence the type and degree of noncovalent interactions with dissolved organic matter.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in a lacustrine sediment as a possible indicator of paleoclimate

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (C_18:2 and C_18:3ω3 were analyzed in the upper 20m layer of a 200 m long sediment core taken from Lake Biwa. Concentration maxima occur in layers at depths of 0.2, 1–5, 11–12, and 16m. The vertical changes in the $\text{(C}{}_{\mathrm{18:2}}\text{C(C}{}_{\mathrm{18:0}}$ ratio appear to correlate with paleoclimatic condition suggested from palynological evidence. On the basis of $\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{18:2}}\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{18:0}}$ ratios, it was suggested that it has been colder at 200, 1000–4000, 15,000 and 20,000 yr BP than at other times.     

A comparison of aggregation behavior in aqueous humic acids

The ability of six humic acids (HAs) to form pseudomicellar structures in aqueous solution was evaluated by five techniques: size exclusion chromatography; pyrene fluorescence enhancement; the pyrene I₁/I₃ ratio; the cloud point of dilute HA solutions; and the fluorescence anisotropy of HAs. Soil HAs were found to aggregate most easily, both on microscopic and macroscopic scales. The formation of amphiphilic structures was chiefly related to HA-solvent interactions: highly solvated HAs aggregated poorly, while a lignite derived material underwent intermolecular, rather than intramolecular, rearrangements. A newly discovered algal HA was found to have minimal aggregative properties.     

Spectroscopic characterization of fulvic acids extracted from the rock exudate Shilajit

The present work describes the extraction of fulvic acids (FA) from Shilajit and its spectroscopic and mass spectrometric characterization. The spectral features obtained from FT-IR and ¹HNMR were similar to those reported for humic substances from other sources. The molecular elemental composition analysis by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) in electrospray negative ion mode resulted in extraordinary high average O/C ratios (0.55) which might be caused by a significant contribution of carbohydrates in Shilajit. A very high average H/C ratio of 1.27 also points to dominant aliphatic or alicyclic structures and relatively low aromaticity. The average molecular formula of the nitrogen free elemental compositions measured by FT-ICR mass spectrometry is C_18.2H_23.0O_10.0.     

Variability of the He3 and Ne21 production rates in ordinary chondrites

Al²⁶ and noble gas contents of 6 ordinary chondrites with $\text{He}{}^3\text{Ne}{}^{21}$ ratios above 6.0 or below 4.0 are used to infer the variability of the production rates of He³ and Ne²¹ (P_He³ and P_Ne²¹). The ratio of the observed Al²⁶ content to a calculated, normal value is taken as a measure of the change of P_Ne²¹ from its normal value. The corresponding change in P_He³ is then computed from the observed $\text{He}{}^3\text{Ne}{}^{21}$ ratio and an average value of P_He³.According to these calculations which exclude orbital effects, P_He³ will be near the average value in meteorites with high $\text{He}{}^3\text{Ne}{}^{21}$ ratios, while P_Ne²¹ will be about 30 per cent below normal. In meteorites with low $\text{He}{}^3\text{Ne}{}^{21}$ ratios, P_He³ may be depressed by as much as 25 per cent from normal while P_Ne²¹ may be 15–20 per cent above the average.     

Characteristics of amorphous kerogens fractionated from terrigenous sedimentary rocks

A preliminary attempt to fractionate amorphous kerogens from terrigenous bulk kerogen by a benzene-water two phase partition method under acidic condition was made. Microscopic observation revealed that amorphous kerogens and structured kerogens were fractionated effectively by this method. Characteristics of the amorphous and structured kerogens fractionated by this method were examined by some chemical analyses and compared with those of the bulk kerogen and humic acid isolated from the same rock sample (Haizume Formation, Pleistocene, Japan). The elemental and infrared (IR) analyses showed that the amorphous kerogen fraction had the highest atomic$\text{H}\text{C}$ ratio and the lowest atomic $\text{N}\text{C}$ ratio and was the richest in aliphatic structures and carbonyl and carboxyl functional groups. Quantities of fatty acids from the saponification products of each geopolymer were in agreement with the results of elemental and IR analyses. Distribution of the fatty acids was suggestive that more animal lipids participate in the formation of amorphous kerogens because of the abundance of relatively lower molecular weight fatty acids (such as C₁₆ and C₁₈ acids) in saponification products of amorphous kerogens. On the other hand, although the amorphous kerogen fraction tends to be rich in aliphatic structures compared with bulk kerogen of the same rock samples, van Krevelen plots of elemental compositions of kerogens from the core samples (Nishiyama Oil Field, Tertiary, Japan) reveal that the amorphous kerogen fraction is not necessarily characterized by markedly high atomic $\text{H}\text{C}$ ratio. This was attributed to the oxic environment of deposition and the abundance of biodegraded terrestrial amorphous organic matter in the amorphous kerogen fraction used in this work.     

Chemistry and isotope ratios of sulfur in basalts and volcanic gases at Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

Eighteen basalts and some volcanic gases from the submarine and subaerial parts of Kilauea volcano were analyzed for the concentration and isotope ratios of sulfur. By means of a newly developed technique, sulfide and sulfate sulfur in the basalts were separately but simultaneously determined. The submarine basalt has 700 ± 100 ppm total sulfur with δ³⁴S_Σs of $\text{0.7 ± 0.1 ‰}$. The sulfate/sulfide molar ratio ranges from 0.15 to 0.56 and the fractionation factor between sulfate and sulfide is $\text{+7.5 ± 1.5‰}$. On the other hand, the concentration and δ³⁴S_Σs values of the total sulfur in the subaerial basalt are reduced to 150 ± 50 ppm and $\text{?0.8 ± 0.2‰}$, respectively. The sulfate to sulfide ratio and the fractionation factor between them are also smaller, 0.01 to 0.25 and +3.0‰, respectively. Chemical and isotopic evidence strongly suggests that sulfate and sulfide in the submarine basalt are in chemical and isotopic equilibria with each other at magmatic conditions. Their relative abundance and the isotope fractionation factors may be used to estimate the $\text{?o}{}_2$ and temperature of these basalts at the time of their extrusion onto the sea floor. The observed change in sulfur chemistry and isotopic ratios from the submarine to subaerial basalts can be interpreted as degassing of the SO₂ from basalt thereby depleting sulfate and ³⁴S in basalt.The volcanic sulfur gases, predominantly SO₂, from the 1971 and 1974 fissures in Kilauea Crater have δ³⁴S values of 0.8 to 0.9%., slightly heavier than the total sulfur in the submarine basalts and definitely heavier than the subaerial basalts, in accord with the above model. However, the δ³⁴S value of sulfur gases (largely SO₂) from Sulfur Bank is 8.0%., implying a secondary origin of the sulfur. The δ³⁴S values of native sulfur deposits at various sites of Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanos, sulfate ions of four deep wells and hydrogen sulfide from a geothermal well along the east rift zone are also reported. The high δ³⁴S values (+5 to +6%._o) found for the hydrogen sulfide might be an indication of hot basaltseawater reaction beneath the east rift zone.     

Arsenic and antimony in geothermal waters of Yellowstone National Park,Wyoming, USA

A total of 268 thermal spring samples were analyzed for total soluble As using reduced molybdenum-blue; 27 of these samples were also analyzed for total Sb using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. At Yellowstone the $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ atomic ratio is nearly constant among neutral-alkaline springs with Cl > 100 mg L^?1, and within restricted geographic areas, indicating no differential effects of adiabatic vs. conductive cooling on arsenic. The $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ ratio increases with silica and decreases with decreasing $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$; the latter relationship is best exemplified for springs along the extensively sampled SE-NW trend within the Lone Star-Upper-Midway Basin region. The relationship between $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ and $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$ at Yellowstone suggests a possible rock leaching rather than magmatic origin for much of the Park's total As flux. Condensed vapor springs are low in both As and Cl. Very high $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ ratios ( > 1000) are associated exclusively with highly diluted (Cl < 100 mg L^?1) mixed springs in the Norris and Shoshone Basins and in the Upper White Creek and Firehole Lake areas of Lower Basin. The high ratios are associated with acidity and/or oxygen and iron; they indicate precipitation of As following massive dilution of the Asbearing high-Cl parent water.Yellowstone Sb ranged from 0.009 at Mammoth to 0.166 mg L^?1 at Joseph's Coat Spring. Within basins, the $\text{Cl}\text{Sb}$ ratio increases as the $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$ ratio decreases, in marked contrast to As. Mixed springs also have elevated $\text{Cl}\text{Sb}$ ratios. White (1967) and Weissberg (1969) previously reported stibnite (Sb₂S₃), but not orpiment (As₂S₃), precipitating in the near surface zone of alkaline geothermal systems.     

Molecular environment of iodine in naturally iodinated humic substances: Insight from X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The molecular environment of iodine in reference inorganic and organic compounds, and in dry humic and fulvic acids (HAs and FAs) extracted from subsurface and deep aquifers was probed by iodine L₃-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of iodine spectra from HAs and FAs resembled those of organic references and displayed structural features consistent with iodine forming covalent bonds with organic molecules. Simulation of XANES spectra by linear combination of reference spectra suggested the predominance of iodine forming covalent bonds to aromatic rings (aromatic-bound iodine). Comparison of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of reference and samples further showed that iodine was surrounded by carbon shells at distances comparables to those for references containing aromatic-bound iodine. Quantitative analysis of EXAFS spectra indicated that iodine was bound to about one carbon at a distance d (I-C) of 2.01(4)-2.04(9) Å, which was comparable to the distances observed for aromatic-bound iodine in references (1.99(1)-2.07(6) Å), and significantly shorter than that observed for aliphatic-bound iodine (2.15(2)-2.16(2) Å). These results are in agreement with previous conclusions from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and from electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. These results collectively suggest that the aromatic-bound iodine is stable in the various aquifers of this study.     

Al-Sm-Eu-Sr systematics of eucrites and Moon rocks: Implications for planetary bulk compositions

Analysis of the Eu and Sr “anomalies” of eucrites and lunar rocks allows constraints to be placed on the bulk compositions of the eucrite parent body (EPB) and the Moon. The elements Al, REE, and Sr, all are essentially incompatible with the major minerals of these small, low-?(O₂) bodies, except for plagioclase, into which Al, Sr, and Eu tend to concentrate. Therefore, the hypothesis that Al, REE, and Sr in the EPB and the Moon are all in proportions close to those in the bulk solar system (i.e., chondrites) leads to certain predictions about the concentrations of these elements in samples affected by plagioclase fractionation. The predictions are almost ideally fulfilled by eucrites and lunar samples. For the EPB, the ratios $\text{REE}\text{Al}$, $\text{Sr}\text{Al}$, and $\text{Sr}\text{REE}$ are constrained to be probably within 10%, almost certainly within 20%, of the chondritic ratios. For the more complicated Moon, the constraints are less precise: $\text{REE}\text{Al}$ is very probably within 25% of chondritic; $\text{Sr}\text{Al}$ and $\text{Sr}\text{REE}$ are probably within 35% of chondritic. These findings are proof that there is a strong similarity between the bulk compositions of the planets and the compositions of chondritic meteorites.The eucrites' Sm-Eu-Sr systematics are also valuable sources of constraints on the distribution coefficients for Eu and Sr into plagioclase, at low ?(O₂). From the slope of data for noncumulate eucrites on a Eu-Sm plot, D(Eu,pl/liq) can be inferred to be 1.1_?0.1^0.2. From the slope on a Sr-Sm plot, D(Sr,pl/liq)) can be inferred to be 1.5 ± 0.3. In the case of D(Eu), this is in excellent agreement with experimental data. In the case of D(Sr), the empirical result is probably more appropriate for eucritic systems than most experimental data, which, due to compositional effects, scatter widely.     

Calculation of molecular weights of humic substances from colligative data: Application to aquatic humus and its molecular size fractions

A rigorous mathematical expression for the dependence of colligative properties on acid dissociation of water soluble humic substances is presented. New data for number average molecular weights of a river derived humic material and its gel permeation Chromatographic fractions are compared with $\text{M}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{n}}$ values obtained by a reevaluation of previously published experimental observations on soil and water fulvic acids. The results reveal a remarkable similarity of fulvic acids from widely different sources with respect to number-average molecular weight.     

The effects of soil sand contents on characteristics of humic acids along soil profiles

It is generally accepted that the compositions and properties of soil organic matter (SOM) are influenced by many factors. In order to reveal the effects of soil texture on characteristics and dynamics of SOM and its sub-fraction, humic acid (HA), along two soil profiles, a yellow soil profile and a purplish soil profile, under the same climate and vegetation conditions were determined. Results indicate that the decomposition and humification degrees of SOM and HA of the purplish soils are higher than those of the corresponding yellow soils indicated by A/O–A ratios of HAs, TOCs and HA yields of bulk soil samples, nevertheless, the development degree of the purplish soil is lower than that of the yellow soil. The variations of E₄/E₆ ratios of HAs along the soil profiles indicate the overall molecular sizes of HAs decreased downward along the soil profiles. A/O–A ratios of HAs decreased downward along both the soil profiles indicate that humification processes decrease downward along both the soil profiles. Leaching of SOM shows significant effects on the distribution and characteristics of HAs in the yellow soil profile but the purplish soil profile, which is consistent with the higher hydrophobicity of HAs in purplish soils, shows that the distribution characteristics of SOM along the soil profiles are a complex result of the combination of soil texture and characteristics of SOM itself. The remarkably different sand contents are concluded tentatively as one of reasons to the different distributions and dynamics of HAs along the soil profiles, however, to profoundly understand the evolution and transport of SOM along soil profiles needs more researches.     

SrCa and MgCa ratios in polygenetic carbonate allochems from a Michigan marl lake

Rapid accumulation of CaCO₃ is occurring in Littlefield Lake, a marl lake located in central Michigan. The sediment, which is 95% CaCO₃, primarily consists of eight different genetic groups of carbonate allochems. These include calcite muds, sands, algal oncoids and Chara encrustations, as well as the dominant aragonitic gastropods Valvota tricarinota. Gyraulus deflectus and Amnicola integra. and the dominant aragonitic pelecypod Sphaerium partumeium. Samples of each of these groups were analyzed for Ca, Sr and Mg. Molar $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios are primarily controlled by allochem mineralogy, with calcitic forms having $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios 5–10 times larger than aragonitic (shelled) forms. The $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ ratios are primarily controlled by biochemical fractionation, and are significantly lower than $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ ratios of inorganically precipitated aragonite from other settings. Partition coefficients were determined for both Sr and Mg for each carbonate allochem group and, based on comparisons with results reported by other workers, the partition coefficients determined here are generally considered ‘typical’ or representative values for biogeneous freshwater carbonates. An analysis of variance of the data indicates that most genera and species of carbonate-secreting organisms in marl lakes have highly characteristic $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ and $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios. These ratios can potentially serve as geochemical tracers in future investigations of lacustrine carbonate diagenesis. Both Sr and Mg are influenced by grain size and/or surface area, probably due to the presence of these elements in non-lattice-held (exchangeable) positions.     

Amino-acid racemizarion in Quaternary shell deposits at Willapa Bay,Washington

Extents of racemization ($\text{d}\text{l}$ ratios) of amino acids in fossil Saxidomus giganteus (Deshayes) and Ostrea lurida Carpenter were measured on shell deposits exposed at 21 sites on the east side of Willapa Bay, Washington. Amino acids from Saxidomus show less variability in $\text{d}\text{Spl}$ ratios and, therefore, are of greater use in correlation and age estimation than are amino acids from Ostrea. Shells of two different ages, about 120,000 ± 40,000 yr old and about 190,000 ± 40,000 yr old, are present. These ages correspond to Stages 5 and 7 of the marine isotope record defined by Shackleton and Opdyke in 1973 and hence the shell deposits likely formed during two different high stands of sea level. The stratigraphic record at Willapa Bay is consistent with this interpretation.     

Calcium diffusion in a simple silicate melt to 30 kbar

Calcium-45 was used as a radiotracer to measure self-diffusion coefficients for Ca in a sodium-calcium-aluminosilicate melt (29% Na₂O, 5% CaO, 10% Al₂O₃, 56% SiO₂) at temperatures in the range 1100–1400°C and pressures to 30 kbar. Calcium diffusivity (D_Ca) was found to depend upon both temperature and pressure in a complex but systematic manner: $\text{(}\text{?D}{}_{\mathrm{Ca}}\text{?P}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{T}}$ is always negative and has a larger absolute value at lower temperatures; $\text{(}\text{?D}{}_{\mathrm{Ca}}\text{?T}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{P}}$ is positive and increases with increasing pressure. The overall dependence of D_Ca upon T and P is given approximately by $\text{D}{}_{\mathrm{caT.P}}\text{= [0.0025 exp(}\text{-23,107}\text{RT}\text{)] exp [P}\text{(0.7297T ? 1261.32)}\text{RT}\text{]}$. When expressed in terms of volume (V_a) and energy (E) of activation, the results are as follows: V_a ranges from 2.2 cm³/mole at 1400°C to 11.9 cm³/mole at 1100°C. and E ranges from 25.4 kcal/mole (1 kban to 49.8 kcal/mole (20 kbar).From the systematic dependence of D_Ca upon T and P, it is concluded that diffusion of Ca²⁺ in silicate melts does not take place by means of a vacant site mechanism, but is controlled instead by the amount and distribution of free volume in the melt structure.If it is assumed that the viscosity of the melt used in this study decreases with increasing pressure (Kushiro, 1976, J. Geophys. Res.81, 6351–6356) as D_Ca does, then the Stokes-Einstein inverse relation between viscosity and diffusivity is clearly violated, and its validity for silicate melts must be questioned. Thus, it appears that in silicate melts, unlike many liquids, viscous flow and diffusion are fundamentally different transport processes, involving different structural units.The effect of pressure on calcium diffusion is too small to invalidate kinetic models of upper mantle processes that have been based upon diffusivity values measured at 1 atm. Pressure may, however, induce significant reductions in the diffusion rates of large ions such as Rb⁺ or SiO^4?₄ in silicate melts.     

The effect of pressure on the ionization of boric acid in sodium chloride and seawater from molal volume data at 0 and 25°C

The apparent molal volume, φ_V of boric acid, B(OH)₃ and sodium borate, NaB(OH)₄, have been determined in 35%. salinity seawater and 0·725 molal NaCl solutions at 0 and 25°C from precise density measurements. Similar to the behavior of nonelectrolytes and electrolytes in pure water, the φ_V of B(OH)₃ is a linear function of added molality and the φ_V of NaB(OH)₄ is a linear function of the square root of added molarity in seawater and NaCl solutions. The partial molal volumes, $\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$, of B(OH)₃ and NaB(OH)₄ in seawater and NaCl were determined from the φ_V's by extrapolating to infinite dilution in the medium. The $\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$ of B(OH)₃ is larger in NaCl and seawater than pure water apparently due to the ability of electrolytes to dehydrate the nonelectrolyte B(OH)₃. The $\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$ of NaB(OH)₄ in itself, NaCl and seawater is larger than the expected value at 0·725 molal ionic strength due to ion pair formation [Na⁺ + B(OH)₄^? → NaB(OH)₄⁰]. The volume change for the formation of NaB(OH)₄⁰ in itself and NaCl was found to be equal to 29·4 ml mol^?1 at 25°C and 0·725 molal ionic strength. These large $\text{Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$'s indicate that at least one water molecule is released when the ion pair is formed [Na⁺ + B(OH)₄^? → H₂O + NaOB(OH)₂⁰]. The observed $\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$ in seawater and the $\text{Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1}$ (NaB⁰) in water and NaCl were used to estimate $\text{Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1 (MgB}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) = Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1 (CaB}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{) = 38·4 ml mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ for the formation of MgB⁺ and CaB⁺. The volume change for the ionization of B(OH)₃ in NaCl and seawater was determined from the molal volume data. Values of $\text{Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1 = ?29·2 and ?25·9 ml mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ were found in seawater and $\text{Δ}\text{V}\text{?}\text{1 = ?21·6 and ?26·4}$ in NaCl, respectively, at 0 and 25°C. The effect of pressure on the ionization of B(OH)₃ in NaCl and seawater at 0 and 25°C determined from the volume change is in excellent agreement with direct measurements in artificial seawater (culberson and Pytkowicz, 1968; Disteche and Disteche, 1967) and natural seawater (Culberson and Pytkowicz, 1968).     

1H NMR spectra of humic and fulvic acids and their peracetic oxidation products

¹H NMR spectra of humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids and their oxidative degradation products are reported. The HA shows the presence of -(CH₂)_n - CH₃ (n > 6) chemical fragments belonging to n-alkanes and/or n-fatty acids physically adsorbed onto the macromolecule structure. These fragments are absent in the FA fraction. Both humic fractions reveal the presence of similar amounts of aromatic protons which partly undergo exchange phenomena. The importance of this experimental observation is discussed. Oxidative degradation seems to cause partial cleavage of aromatic rings, more pronounced in the FA than in the HA. The degraded FA shows a higher total acidity and a higher phenolic OH content than the degraded HA. Both degraded fractions display some sharp singlet signals at 1.9 and 3.9 ppm arising from protons belonging to repetitive chemical fragments probably formed during the oxidation reaction. Tentative assignments of these signals are given. A general analysis of the HA and FA degraded spectra seems to indicate that the chemical fragments which undergo peracetic oxidation are substantially similar. The extent of oxidation of the two humic fractions is different. The HA degradation products reveal the presence of oligomeric structures, whereas the degraded FA appears less resistant to the oxidizing agent.