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PubMed2005

Humic substances can modulate the allelopathic potential of caffeic, ferulic, and salicylic acids for seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

The capacity of a leonardite humic acid (LHA), a soil humic acid (SHA), and a soil fulvic acid (SFA) in modulating the allelopathic potential of caffeic acid (CA), ferulic acid (FA), and salicylic acid (SA) on seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was investigated. Lettuce showed a sensitivity greater than that of tomato to CA, FA, and SA phytotoxicity, which was significantly reduced or even suppressed in the presence of SHA or SFA, especially at the highest dose, but not LHA. In general, SFA was slightly more active than SHA, and the efficiency of the action depended on their concentration, the plant species and the organ examined, and the allelochemical. The daily measured residual concentration of CA and FA decreased drastically and that of SA slightly in the presence of germinating seeds of lettuce, which were thus able to absorb and/or enhance the degradation of CA and FA. The adsorption capacity of SHA for the three allelochemicals was small and decreased in the order FA > CA > SA, thus suggesting that adsorption could be a relevant mechanism, but not the only one, involved in the "antiallelopathic" action.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2007

The auxin-like activity of humic substances is related to membrane interactions in carrot cell cultures.

A detailed characterization of two humic fractions was performed: One with low relative molecular mass (LMr<3,500 Da) and one with high relative molecular mass (HMr>3,500 Da). Distinct (1)H NMR spectroscopic patterns were observed for the two fractions. HMr showed an aromatic proton region, an intense and broad region (3.0-5.0 ppm) attributed to sugar-like and polyether components, and an intense doublet at 1.33 ppm (identified as protons of the beta-CH(3) in lactate). In contrast, LMr did not show resonances due to aromatic protons and was characterized by a broad unresolved region, assigned to sugar-like components. The (13)C NMR spectra showed that the LMr humic fraction was richer in carboxylic and aliphatic C groups compared to HMr fraction. These substances were fluorescein-labeled [fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)], and their interaction with carrot cells in culture was monitored for 10 d, and compared to FITC-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to clarify their mechanisms of biological activity. After different incubation times, fluorescein staining of carrot cells and decrease of fluorescein concentration in the culture medium were evaluated. Fluorescent membrane staining was only present in IAA and the LMr humic fraction treated cell cultures. A consequential decrease of fluorescein concentration in the culture media was also observed. Pretreatment of carrot cells with unconjugated IAA or LMr humic fraction markedly reduced fluorescein staining of both FITC-IAA and FITC-LMr humic fraction. Blocking tests gave indirect evidence of possible binding of the LMr humic fraction to IAA cell membrane receptors. These results indicate that the two humic fractions behave differently. Only LMr humic fraction, like IAA, interacts with cellular membranes in carrot cell cultures.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed2003

Potential availability of heavy metals to phytoextraction from contaminated soils induced by exogenous humic substances.

Effective phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals depends on their availability to plant uptake that, in turn, may be influenced by either the existing soil humus or an exogenous humic matter. We amended an organic and a mineral soil with an exogenous humic acid (HA) in order to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 1% and 2%. The treated soils were further enriched with heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni) to a concentration of 0, 10, 20, and 40 microg/g for each metal and allowed to age at room temperature for 1 and 2 months. After each period, they were extracted for readily soluble and exchangeable (2.5% acetic acid), plant-available (DTPA, Diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid), and occluded (1 N HNO(3)) metal species. Addition of HA generally reduced the extractability of the soluble and exchangeable forms of metals. This effect was directly related to the amount of added HA and increased with ageing time. Conversely, the potentially plant-available metals extracted with DTPA were generally larger with increasing additions of exogenous HA solutions. This was attributed to the formation of metal-humic complexes, which ensured a temporary bioavailability of metals and prevented their rapid transformation into insoluble species. Extractions with 1 N HNO(3) further indicated that the added metals were present in complexes with HA. The observed effects appeared to also depend on the amount of native SOC and its structural changes with ageing. The results suggest that soil amendments with exogenous humic matter may accelerate the phytoremediation of heavy metals from contaminated soil, while concomitantly prevent their environmental mobility.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2003

Effects of ionic strength on the binding of phenanthrene and pyrene to humic substances: three-stage variation model.

This study compared the effects of ionic strength on the binding constants (K(doc)) of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (phenanthrene and pyrene) and a terrestrial humic acid (Leonardite Humic Acid) in different electrolyte solutions (KCl, KBr, MgCl(2) and MgSO(4)). Distinct trends were found in K(doc) variation depending upon the range of ionic strength resulting from added electrolytes. These trends demonstrated similar shapes for all the systems studied, while degree of variation increased with hydrophobicity of the PAHs. Furthermore, different types of electrolytes had different effects on the interactions between humic acid (HA) and the PAHs. These differences were primarily caused by types of cation, not anion. To describe the complicated effects of ionic strength on K(doc), we developed a three-stage variation model that encompasses increasing and decreasing trends and plateaus in K(doc) associated with ionic strength, as well as the mechanisms behind these trends, including the variation of HA structure configuration, HA aggregation and the salting-out effect. This model illustrated the importance of sufficient experimental data when interpreting the influence of ionic strength on the trends in K(doc) variation.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2002

Ionization and fragmentation of humic substances in electrospray ionization Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Electrospray ionization (ESI) was combined with ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) to characterize complex humic and fulvic acid mixtures. Lower than expected molecular weight distributions previously observed for humics when analyzed by ESI-MS have fueled speculation about a bias in favor of low molecular weight. Multiply charged ions, ionization suppression, and sample fragmentation have all been suggested as sources of this low molecular weight bias. In this work, resolution of the individual components of humic mixtures within a 1 mass-to-charge unit window was accomplished by FTICR MS at 9.4 T. At mass resolving powers between 60,000 (high mass) and 120,000 (low mass), it was possible to determine that virtually all ions present in spectra of Suwannee River fulvic and humic acid are singly charged, thus eliminating inadequate accounting for multiply charged ions as a primary source of any low molecular weight bias. The high-resolution mass spectra also revealed the presence of molecular families containing ions that differ from each other in degree of saturation, functional group substitution (primarily CH vs N and CH4 vs O), and number of CH2 groups. Ionization suppression and ion fragmentation were addressed for humic and fulvic acid mixtures and well-characterized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) mixtures with average molecular weights of 8000 and 10,000. Although these high molecular weight PEG mixtures fragment extensively under traditional positive-ion mode ESI conditions, similar fragmentation could not be confirmed for humic and fulvic acid mixtures.

Cyclotrons↗
PubMed2006

Fluorescence spectroscopy: a tool to characterize humic substances in soil colonized by microorganisms?

The ability of eight soil microfungal species, Alternaria alternata, Clonostachys rosea f. rosea, Exophiala cf. salmonis, Fusarium cf. coeruleum, Fusarium redolens, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Penicillium canescens and Phoma sp., and two known basidiomycete humic acid (HA) degraders, Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, to modify fluorescence properties of fulvic acids (FA) and/or HAs was determined. Effects of minerals and/or glucose on the modifications were examined. FA purified on polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone (PVPP) chromatography column was used. Purification of FA on PVPP column removed the low-molar-mass FA-structural components and excess of extractant (NaOH) used during FA preparation. Excitation spectra of FA entering the purification, purified FA and the removal solution indicate that organic compounds rich in carboxylic groups dominate in the removal solution and higher content of phenolic groups is a characteristic of purified FA. Many microfungal species shifted the emission maximum (measured at 470 and 468 nm of excitation wavelength) of FA, and also HA to longer wavelengths. The opposite effect (shift of the HA emission maximum to shorter wavelengths) of microfungi was observed for HA complemented by glucose. Depending on the presence of glucose in the medium, most microfungi changed also the shape of the emission spectra of HA and FA and the excitation spectra of FA. HA excitation spectrum measured at 590 nm of emission wavelength was significantly affected by the presence of glucose. Mineral ions caused a minor shift in the position of excitation maximum (measured at 590 nm of emission wavelength) toward longer wavelengths.

Benzopyrans↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of humic substances by environmental scanning electron microscopy.

Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) is a new technique capable of imaging micron and submicron particles. Here, we have applied it to image and quantify natural aquatic organic matter (standard Suwannee River humic acid, SRHA). Uniquely, we have observed the humic aggregate structures as a function of humidity and pH. Large aggregates of tens of micrometers were observed as the dominant material under all conditions, although much smaller material was also observed. Fractal dimensions (D) were calculated between 1.48 and 1.70, although these values were not statistically different under conditions of low humidity. However, D values calculated at high humidities (85%) during the rehydration phase were significantly lower (1.48+/-0.01) than in the initial dehydration phase (1.69+/-0.01). This hysteresis indicated that full rehydration of the HS was either kinetically slow or irreversible after dehydration. Fractal analysis of ESEM images was also performed to probe the change in aggregate structure as a function of pH. Minimum values were calculated at neutral pHs, rising by 0.1-0.2 at both high and low pHs because of a combination of the physical chemistry of HS and the impacts of the drying regime within the ESEM. Thus, ESEM was an important complementary technique to other analytical methods. At present, ESEM cannot be used to image nonperturbed natural samples. However, the method is an ideal method for probing the changes in colloid structure as function of hydration state and has the potential to perform fully quantitative and nonperturbing analysis of colloidal structure.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enzymatic transformation and binding of labeled 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene to humic substances during an anaerobic/aerobic incubation.

Organic pollutants are degraded in soil and simultaneously nonextractable residues are formed. However, proof is lacking that this fixation has a detoxifying effect. We investigated the transformation and binding of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) with catechol or soil humic acid as cosubstrates. Carbon-14-labeled TNT and its reaction products were quantified by radiocounting; extractable compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Bound and extractable residues of 15N-labeled TNT and metabolites were studied by 15N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (15N NMR). Since TNT is not easily transformed under oxidizing conditions an anaerobic/aerobic treatment was used. Anaerobic microorganisms from cow manure were used to reduce TNT during the anaerobic phase and subsequently, a laccase from Trametes villosa was used in the aerobic phase to oxidatively couple the metabolites to humic matter. Seventy-four percent of TNT was immobilized with catechol as cosubstrate, but only 25% with humic acid. With catechol the main extractable component was TNT, while with humic acid it was mostly the metabolite 4-aminodinitrotoluene. For both co-substrates, the spectra of immobilized metabolites obtained by solid-state 15N-cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectroscopy showed signals in the chemical shift region for protonated aromatic amino compounds. However, in the presence of catechol, an additional signal from nonextractable nitro groups was found, which could represent sequestered TNT. The partially reduced metabolites of TNT that formed nonextractable residues in humic acid are not likely to be remobilized easily and are thus regarded as detoxified.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗