Characterization of humic substances by advanced solid state NMR spectroscopy: Demonstration of a systematic approach

Characterization of humic substances is challenging due to their structural complexity and heterogeneity. Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is regarded as one of the best tools for elucidating structures of humic substances. The primary solid state NMR technique that has been used so far is the routine ¹³C cross polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) technique. Although this technique has markedly advanced our understanding of humic substances, the full potential of NMR for characterizing humic substances has yet to be realized. Recent technical developments and applications of advanced solid state NMR have revealed the promise to provide deeper insights into structures of humic substances. In this paper, we summarized and demonstrated the systematic solid state NMR protocol for characterization of humic substances using a humic acid as an example. This protocol included (1) identification of specific functional groups using spectral editing techniques, occasionally assisted by ¹H¹³C two-dimensional heteronuclear correlation (2D HETCOR) NMR, (2) quantification of specific functional groups based on direct polarization-magic angle spinning (DP-MAS) and DP-MAS with recoupled dipolar dephasing, combined with spectral editing techniques, (3) determination of connectivities and proximities of specific functional groups by ¹H¹³C 2D HETCOR or 2D HETCOR combined with spectral editing techniques, and (4) examination of domains and heterogeneities by ¹H¹³C 2D HETCOR with ¹H spin diffusion. We used a soil humic acid as an example to demonstrate how this protocol was applied to the characterization of humic substances step by step. Afterwards, based on typical ¹³C NMR spectra of humic substances we described how we could combine different NMR techniques to identify specific functional groups band by band from downfield to upfield. Finally, we briefly mentioned the potential new NMR techniques that could be developed to enrich the current systematic protocol. This systematic protocol is not only applicable to humic substances but also to other natural organic matter samples.