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Trace Metal Chemistry in Arid‐zone Field Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge: II. Comparative Study of the Fulvic Acid Fraction
Author(s) -
Sposito Garrison,
Holtzclaw Kenneth M.,
LeVesque C. S.,
Johnston Cliff T.
Publication year - 1982
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/sssaj1982.03615995004600020010x
Subject(s) - chemistry , sewage sludge , environmental chemistry , fulvic acid , fraction (chemistry) , sulfur , soil water , sewage , humic acid , nuclear chemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , fertilizer , environmental engineering , soil science , environmental science , engineering
Abstract The elemental composition, infrared spectrum, and proton titration curve were determined for (i) the fulvic acid fraction of a Domino soil which had received applications of composted sewage sludge for three years in a field experiment, and (ii) a commercially available fulvic acid extracted from a spodosol. Data showed that the Domino fulvic acid more resembled a typical sludge‐derived fulvic acid than a fulvic acid extracted from natural soil organic matter. The distinguishing features of the Domino fulvic acid which led to this conclusion were: (i) a high total sulfur (S) content and the presence of sulfonyl groups, (ii) a significant content of anionic surfactants and S‐containing amino acids, (iii) a low glucosamine/galactosamine ratio, and (iv) more than two classes of acidic functional groups. However, the Domino fulvic acid had a much larger content of carboxyl and other acidic functional groups than a typical sludge‐derived fulvic acid, evidently because of partial oxidation of the sludge in the Domino soil.