Molecular characteristics of humin fraction isolated from soils of
temperate climate: a study on Chernozems and Phaeozems in Poland
Abstract
This paper provides new information on molecular properties of the humin
fraction (HM) isolated from the mollic horizons of Phaeozem and
Chernozem soils developed from different parent materials in the
temperate climatic zone of Poland. In our work we did not extract this
fraction by dissolution but isolated it by exhaustive extraction of
humic and fulvic acids with NaOH and then removing the mineral fraction
with HF/HCl treatment. Obtained HM reflects the properties of this
fraction that naturally occurres in the soil environment. The assessment
of the structural properties of the HM was carried out using the
spectroscopic methods ( 13C CP MAS NMR, FTIR, EPR),
HPLC, SEM-EDX, and elemental composition analyses. The
13C CP MAS NMR spectra of the HM showed the advantage
of aromatic structures over other organic components. The FTIR spectra
confirmed that the content of aromatic structures dominated over the
aliphatic ones, ranging from 7.05 to 10.32%. The EPR study indicated
evidence of an unpaired electron situated on the condensed aromatic
moieties. The HPLC investigation revealed the dominance of hydrophobic
fractions, ranging from 77.41 to 80.83%. The ash content, ranging from
22.89 to 54.50%, as well as SEM-EDS study indicate that the isolated HM
is not a pure organic fraction but constituted strongly bound
organo-mineral compounds, resistant to further treatment with an alkali
and HF/HCl mixture. This fraction represents the most resistant pool of
the SOM that plays a crucial role in soil carbon sequestration and due
to high functional group content contributes to the maintenance of soil
and its ecosystem services.