Total luminescence spectroscopy was applied to the
fluorescence characterization of humic substances
obtained from the International Humic Substances
Society (IHSS). Results show that total luminescence
spectra, represented as excitation−emission matrices
(EEMs), may be used to discriminate between soil-derived and aquatic-derived IHSS humic substances
and between humic and fulvic acids derived from
the same source (soil or aquatic). Ionic strength in
the
range of 0−1 M KCl and humic substance concentration in the range of 5−100 mg/L had little effect on
the fluorescence spectral characteristics of the
humic substances, while pH had significant effects
as expected. Absorbance correction was shown
to be essential for accurate representation and
comparison of the EEMs of the humic substances
at high concentrations.
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