Humic acids are animal and plant decay products found in soils. They contribute significantly to environmental water retention and to metal binding and release. There has been recent isolation of humic acids from several live plants, leading to investigation of the humic acid content of Water Hyacinth in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Water Hyacinths are flowered plants that have invaded lakes, rivers and waterways with devastating economic effects. The plants thrive in nutrient-rich and polluted water. The humic acid isolated from the leaves, stems and roots of live Water Hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solm-Laubach: Pontedericeae) from the Nile Delta, Egypt were identified by chemical and spectral analysis. Our objective is to isolate humic acid in Water Hyacinths from Florida and identify their structure by chemical and spectral analysis. The results are used in comparison with those for the Water Hyacinth from Egypt and with authentic soil and plant derived humic acids.

Reference

E. A. Ghabbour, G. Davies, Y.-Y. Lam, M. E. Vozzella, Metal binding by humic acid isolated from water hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solm-Laubach: Pontedericeae) in the Nile Delta, Egypt, Environ. Pollution, 131, 445-451 (2004).