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Fluorescence Excitation Spectra and Viscosity Behavior of a Fulvic Acid and its Copper and Iron Complexes
Author(s) -
Ghosh Kunal,
Schnitzer M.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500010005x
Subject(s) - copper , fluorescence , fulvic acid , chemistry , excitation , spectral line , viscosity , photochemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , optics , physics , fertilizer , quantum mechanics , humic acid , astronomy , composite material
Fluorescence excitation spectra of fulvic acid (FA) and its Cu and Fe complexes showed that fluorophore groups participated in metal complexation with a concomitant reduction in fluorescence intensities. The two characteristic bands at 360 and 465 nm were affected by metal complexation but in addition, the 360‐nm band shifted gradually toward longer wavelengths as more metal was complexed. Viscosity measurements indicated decreases in the molecular flexibility of FA with increasing metal complexing. This rigidity or strain in the structure was ascribed to metal complexing with carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups and so bringing the macromolecular segments closer to each other. Viscosity‐average molecular weights ( M̄ v ) also increased as more metal was complexed possibly because of the formation of metal bridges between FA molecules. The two effects mentioned above were more prominent at pH 6.0 than at 4.0. The flexibility of FA molecules at pH 6.0 is greater than at pH 4.0, because of a reduction in intramolecular H‐bonding at the higher pH, which allows the FA to interact with metal ions more favorably.