Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (1H, 13C, and 31P) have been applied to the study of fractions of humic acids in Irish peat. Owing to the high fluorescence of these materials, no Raman spectra have been obtained, up to now, for the characterization of humic acids. The SERS technique was employed for the first time in the study of these complex substances, demonstrating that very valuable information about the aromatic groups and the spacial conformation of these macromolecules in water solution can be obtained. The combined use of these techniques has evidenced an increase of oxygenated groups in those fractions containing humic acids with low molecular weight. The presence of a greater number of carboxylate and phenolic groups can explain the high concentration of metals and phosphate ions found in these fractions.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The evolution of the organic matter during the maturation of solid samples of pig sludges and pig manure composted with straw was followed. A sample of pig sludge about 15 years old also was characterized for comparison. The organic matter of the composts and sludges was extracted and the humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) were separated. The organic carbon in the total extract (TEC) in the fulvic fraction and in the humic fraction was determined in order to evaluate the stabilization level of the organic matter using some humification parameters. The nature of the organic extract also was evaluated by characterization with analytical isoelectric focusing (IEF). The results confirm that the degree of humification (DH) decreases during the first period of maturation of the organic matter, because of the degradation of humic and fulvic-like compounds contained into the raw organic materials, while then it increases progressively for all the maturation period. The data collected in this study confirm that the FA fraction could be the main cause of the lack of regularity in the trend of increasing DH as maturation progresses. The FA/TEC ratio infact decreases progressively for all the maturation period, while the HA/TEC ratio increases. The results obtained in the IEF characterization confirm the validity of this analytical technique. Moreover, the results do not appear to be affected by the presence of the humic-like