Electron paramagnetic resonance characterization of a humic acid-type polymer model

Abstract

Humic acid-type polymer models have been shown to be similar to natural humic acids (HA) in terms of chemical properties. Due to the complexity of humic substances (HS), this humic acid-type polymer models, in which the ligand sites are better defined, can be used in the study of metals and for other applications. In this study, a polymer with characteristics analogous to those of humic acids isolated from soil surface cultivated using a no-tillage system for nine years, was obtained by means of synthesis reactions, through oxidative polymerization in an alkaline medium using para-benzoquinone as precursor. An EPR spectroscopy study was made of natural humic acids (HA) and synthetic humic acids (SHA). A semiquinone-type free radical signal was detected in the SHA. The spectra showed similar signals for HA from soil and synthetic HA complexed with Fe3+, Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions. © 2010 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.