Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Humic Acids of Low-Mineralized Peloids of the Tuzkol Deposit

Abstract

As a result of studies it was found that the peloids of the deposit of Tuzkol Lake (Republic of Kazakhstan) are high quality medium-sulfide, weakly alkaline sludge muds. It was found that peloid-derived humic acid contains 49.63 % oxygen, 22.37% carbon, 9.65 % silicon and 6.26% calcium; it also contains Na, Mg, Al, Fe and an insignificant amount of S, Cl, K, F. Electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy analysis of the molecular structure of humic substances of peloids indicated that their macromolecule consists of framework olefinic and aromatic fragments with a substantial proportion of unoxidized aliphatic groups, as well as aromatic structures containing carboxyl groups. The findings of amperometric detection of the antioxidant properties of humic acids suggest that they have antioxidant activity, which will make it possible to use them as a biologically active substance for medicines.