In situ examination of the protonation behavior of fulvic acids using differential absorbance spectroscopy.

The effects of pH changes on the absorbance spectra of fulvic acids, which constitute a major part of natural organic matter (NOM) were examined based primarily on the example of standard Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). Differential absorbance spectra of SRFA generated at varying pH values were determined to be rich in features that are absent in the conventional spectra. Analysis of the differential absorbance revealed the existence of two predominant types of pH-active chromophores which produced features that emerged in the pH ranges associated with carboxylic and phenolic functional groups of fulvic acids.

Investigation of the reduction of lead dioxide by natural organic matter.

Experiments with immobilized lead dioxide showed that this solid was reduced by natural organic matter (NOM) isolated from Potomac River water. Kinetically, the process was slow and occurred throughout many weeks of exposure. The amount of mobilized lead was affected by the concentration of NOM and exposure time but not significantly influenced by the type of NOM used in the experiments.