Micelle-like conformation of humic substances as revealed by size exclusion chromatography. 1996

A Piccolo, and S Nardi, and G Concheri
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimico-Agrarie, Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy.

To gain further insight into the macromolecular behaviour of humic substances we treated a humic material with simple organic compounds and followed the change in molecular size distribution. Monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic, and tricarboxylic acids shifted the humic absorbance from high to low molecular sizes in size exclusion chromatograms. Mineral acids, phenol, alcohols, were not able to produce the same shift and gave total absorbance at the column void volume as in the case of humic substances alone. Our results are evidence of the micellar behaviour of humic substances in solution and of the importance of hydrophobic bondings in holding humic molecules together. The organic acids enter in the interior of the humic micelle and alter its stereochemical hydrophobic arrangement. In alkaline conditions, the developed negative charges disrupt the apparent high molecular size configuration and disperse the humic material into small-size micelles. This macromolecular property, that we report for the first time, may be of great importance in understanding the biological activity and the overall environmental behaviour of humic substances.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008968 Molecular Conformation The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule. Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D002845 Chromatography Techniques used to separate mixtures of substances based on differences in the relative affinities of the substances for mobile and stationary phases. A mobile phase (fluid or gas) passes through a column containing a stationary phase of porous solid or liquid coated on a solid support. Usage is both analytical for small amounts and preparative for bulk amounts. Chromatographies
D006812 Humic Substances Organic matter in a state of advanced decay, after passing through the stages of COMPOST and PEAT and before becoming lignite (COAL). It is composed of a heterogenous mixture of compounds including phenolic radicals and acids that polymerize and are not easily separated nor analyzed. (E.A. Ghabbour & G. Davies, eds. Humic Substances, 2001). Humic Acid,Humic Acids,Humic Substance,Sodium Huminate,Acid, Humic,Acids, Humic,Huminate, Sodium,Substance, Humic,Substances, Humic
D000143 Acids Chemical compounds which yield hydrogen ions or protons when dissolved in water, whose hydrogen can be replaced by metals or basic radicals, or which react with bases to form salts and water (neutralization). An extension of the term includes substances dissolved in media other than water. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Acid
D000438 Alcohols Alkyl compounds containing a hydroxyl group. They are classified according to relation of the carbon atom: primary alcohols, R-CH2OH; secondary alcohols, R2-CHOH; tertiary alcohols, R3-COH. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

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