Humic substances are major components of natural organic matter found in soils, sediments, and geologic deposits. They are formed by the microbial degradation of dead plant matter. Humic substances can be divided into humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin, and are characterized by their dark color, acidic and aromatic properties. They can complex with metals in natural waters and transport them long distances. Their ability to form complexes influences coagulant dosing in water treatment. Humic substances can impact human health, with humic acid possibly forming disinfection byproducts during chlorination, while fulvic acid may have benefits for brain health and infections but also impacts allergic reactions.

1. Humic Substances Present In water
Hydrology presentation
SubmittedTo: DR Zakir Hussain.

2. What are Humic Substances?
Humic substances are major
components of natural organic
matter (NOM) in the soil as well as
geologic organic deposits such as
lake sediments, peat, brown coals
and shales.

3. NOM:
It is the matter composed of organic compounds that has come
from the remains of the animals and plants and their waste
products in the environment.

4. Humic substances in soil are divided into three main fractions:
HUMIC ACID
FULVIC ACID
HUMIN
Composition:

5. Difference between Humic Acid and Fulvic
Acid:

6. Structure of Humic Substances

7. Formation Characteristics and
Extraction of Humic Substances

8. ThreeTheories to explain it
 LigninTheory
 PolyphenolTheory
 Sugar Amine Condensation
Formed by the microbial
degradation of dead plant matter
such as lignin and charcoal.

9. Characteristics
fDark Coloured Acidic
Aromatic
HydrophilicComplex Weight

10. Methods for Extraction Include
 Freeze Drying
 Liquid Extraction
 Anion Exchange
 Ultrafiltration
 Adsorption Method using Charcoal
or organic non organic resins.
Extraction
The extractions were carried
out with 0.5 M KOH for 3 h,
at a ratio of 1:20 (m/v) under
a nitrogen atmosphere.The
Humic Substances were
separated by centrifugation.

11. “Measure of dissolved oxygen required to decompose the organic
matter in water biologically’”
 Normally, it is measured over 5 days.
 Rapid waters can rapidly replenish Oxygen supply due to its fast
flow. Lakes are less efficient at doing this.
 Pure water BOD = 1 ppm
 Polluted water BOD = 5 ppm or above

14.  Trace organics can be detected using gas
chromatography, although this is made difficult
by the sheer number of compounds to be
detected.
 They are removed from drinking water supplies
using activated carbon filters, or sometimes
oxidation by ozone.

15. The complexation of metals with humic
materials in natural waters:

16. High molecular weight compounds of humic and fulvic acids
occur in small concentrations in natural surface waters and
ground water.
Generally described, as polymers with molecular weights from
300 to 30,000.
chemical and biological processes that tend to produce complex
chemical structures that are more stable than the original
material.

17. one of the more
important characteristics
of humic substances is
their ability to form
water soluble and water
in soluble complexes with
metal ions and hydrous
oxides and to interact
with clay minerals and
various organic
compounds.
the stability
constants of their
complexes with
ca,mg,co,ni,cu,zn,c
d and hg have
been determined
at pH 8.0

18. In fresh water more than 90% of the copper and
mercury was found to be complexed by humic materials.
In sea water >99% of the humic material is complexed
by calcium and magnesium because of their relatively
high concentrations.
The metals may be transported in flowing ground
water, followed by destruction of the metal humic
substance bound at elevated temperature, and this is
thought to give rise to the formation of ore deposits.

19.  The dissociation behavior
of two combined fulvic,
humic acid extracts was
studied and it was found
that the dissociation of
the humic varied in a
predictable manner with
pH.Using a carboxyl
content of 10 μeq/ mg
humic organic carbon, and
mass action quotient
calculated from sample
pH,the ionic balances of
three highly coloured
Nova Scotia rivers were
estimated.

20.  The adsorption of NOM on oxides depends significantly on
complex formation reactions between specific sites on oxides
surfaces and functional groups on the NOM
 coagulant requirements can and often are set by the total organic
carbon concentration in a water source.
 there is a stoichiometric relationship between the required
coagulant dosage and the TOC of the water to be treated.

21. Impact of humic substances on human

22. Humic acid
 Humic acid is a chemical produce by decaying plants.
 It is also a major constituent of many upland streams and ocean water.

23. BENEFITS OF HUMIC ACID
 Humic acid is use for stimulating the immune system.
 Humic acid is also for treating acute infection , chronic infection and Latent
infections.
Bad effect of humic acid
 Humic acid when present in drinking water can react with the chemical used in the
chlorination process to form disinfection by product such as dihaloacetonitriles.

24. Fulvic acid
 Fulvic acid is formed when plants and animals decompose.
 Fulvic acid is a yellow-brown substances found in natural material such as soil,
peat, coal, and bodies of water such as streams or lakes.

25. Benefits of fulvic acid People take fulvic acid by mouth for brain disorder such as Alzeimers diseases as well as
respiratory tract infections cancer ,fatigue heavy metal toxicity and preventing condition in
which the body tissues do not receive enough oxygen.
Bad effect of fulvic acid
 The anti-inflammatory properties of the substance reduce the itching associated with the
skin condition.
 Fulvic acid might block reactions in the body that cause allergy symptoms.