| Humic substances are organic substances found in soil and water. They are complex macromolecules that resulted from the chemical and biological degradation of plant and animal residues. Complete separation of these compounds has never been achieved, and the composition and structures of these compounds are not known. In an effort to structurally characterize humic substance, several analytical approaches were taken. First, a synthetic mixture was investigated for its ability to mimic natural humic substances. Second, hydrogen/deuterium exchange was applied to a sample to collect information about the kinds of oxygen-containing functional groups contained. Finally, a quality assurance check was performed with a mixture of analytical standards to investigate whether new compounds being created as a product of the mode of analysis is a concern. |
