Humic substances (HSs) are products of animal and plant
decomposition. They contain more carbon than all living organisms. Humic acids
(HAs) are the major HSs sub-group. HA properties have been described as
“aliphatic-aromatic macromolecules with alcohol, amine, amide, carbonyl,
carboxylic, phenol and quinone functional groups.” In this project we studied
how the title nucleic acid constituents adsorb on a solid, iron(III)-loaded
German-peat humic acid. Twenty samples of each adenine triad nucleic acid
constituent were prepared at different concentrations and reacted with a
constant amount of solid GHA. We then placed the samples in a thermostated
shaker and used a UV spectrophotometer to study adsorption between 5-35 degrees
Celsius in 5-degree increments. The data have been analyzed with a simple model
and the results will be discussed.
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