By

Dr. Muammad Afzal

Humic acid
Humic acid is a principal component of humic substances, which are the major organic constituents of soil (humus), peat, coal, many upland streams, dystrophic lakes, and ocean water.[1] It is produced by biodegradation of dead organic matter. It is not a single acid; rather, it is a complex mixture of many different acids containing carboxyl and phenolate groups so that the mixture behaves functionally as a dibasic acid or, occasionally, as a tribasic acid. Humic acids can form complexes with ions that are commonly found in the environment creating humic colloids. Humic and fulvic acids (fulvic acids are humic acids of lower molecular weight and higher oxygen content than other humic acids) are commonly used as a soil supplement in agriculture, and less commonly as a human nutritional supplement. As a nutrition supplement, fulvic acid can be found in a liquid form as a component of mineral colloids. Fulvic acids are poly-electrolytes and are unique colloids that diffuse easily through membranes whereas all other colloids do not[citation needed]. "Synthesis of fulvic acid (1a) was accomplished by a route involving selective ozonization of 9-propenylpyranobenzopyran (1c), obtained by a regioselective cyclization of the 2-methylsulphinylmethyl 1,3-dione(3c)."[2]

Chemical characteristics of humic substances

Example of a typical humic acid, having a variety of components including quinone, phenol, catechol and sugar moieties[1] A typical humic substance is a mixture of many molecules, some of which are based on a motif of aromatic nuclei with phenolic and carboxylic substituents, linked together; the illustration shows a typical structure. The functional groups that contribute most to surface charge and reactivity of humic substances are phenolic and carboxylic groups.

Benefits of adding Humic Acid to the soil

Increases the CEC (nutrient holding capacity) of the soil.

Increases the water holding capacity or retention ability of the soil. Improves fertilizer utilization, by preventing fertilizers from leaching out from the root zone. Improves the growth of various groups of beneficial microorganisms. Helps reduce soil erosion by increasing cohesive forces of very fine soil particles. Buffers pH problems, allowing plants to survive until the pH can be corrected. Increases and enlarges root systems and promotes plant cell division. Changes the physical and mechanical properties of the soil in structure, color, and consistency.

 Increases the permeability of plant membranes, promotes more efficient nutrient uptake. Aids in correcting plant chlorosis. Increases the germination capacity of seed Helps plants grow better in high salt situations. Helps intensify the Enzyme systems increasing the metabolic changes inside the plant's cells. Releases various types of auxins responsible for plant growth. As an organic catalyst it helps speed up the rate of chemical reactions within the plant

Humic acid is not a fertilizer, but instead a compliment to fertilizer. Fertilizer is a nutrient source for both plants and microflora. Humic acid essentially helps move micronutrients from soil to plant. Its benefits have been proven both experimentally and in the field

Figure 1. Oxidized humic acid molecule. The organic structure of humic acid is naturally oxidized, as shown by the asterisks, giving it a negative charge. Positive ions, attracted to broken bonds at the site of the oxidation, create sites for micronutrients and microflora to attach.

STANDARD TEST METHOD FOR HUMIC ACID

PRINCIPLE
Particulate/colloidal matter in humic acid sample is removed by dissolving in extraction solution. Actual humic acid contents are calculated gravimetrically by acid precipitation of humic acid.

REAGENTS/CHEMICALS
Concentrated Nitric Acid Sodium hydroxide Ethanol Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic acid (DTPA) Humic Acid Standard (Aldrich) 93% approx. Extraction solution (Dissolve 2g NaOH ,20ml Ethanol and 4ml of 0.001M DTPA in 1 liter deionized water)

Grind humic acid sample and pass through sieve (mesh No 100). Care should be taken that all the sample taken for grinding must pass through sieve to obtain homogeneous sample.

METHODOLOGY

Weigh accurately 0.5 g grinded sample in 100 ml volumetric flask. In case of liquid sample take 5mL after filtration.
Make volume up to mark with extraction solution. Shake for 1hour on mechanical shaker.

 Filter the solution through whatman No. 42 to remove the colloidal/particulate matter.

Add concentrated HNO3 until the pH reaches to 1 and stay for 2hrs. Humic acid will precipitate.
Collect the precipitates by filtration through Whatman 42 filter paper.
CALCULATIONS
Humic Acid (%) = weight of oven dry precipitates x 100 weight of sample taken

REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS

F.J. Stevenson, J. Environ. Quality, 1972,1, 333. A.K. Fataftah, PhD Thesis, Northeastern University, Boston, 1997. T. L. Senn and A. R. Kingman, A Review of Humus and Humic Acid Research www.humates.com/methodology.html