To characterize humus fractions in soil, visible, ultraviolet and infrared absorption spectra of humic acids in alkaline solutions and hymatomelanic acids in ethanol solutions extracted by Stevenson's method from paddy rice soils, peats, and volcanic ...
To characterize humus fractions in soil, visible, ultraviolet and infrared absorption spectra of humic acids in alkaline solutions and hymatomelanic acids in ethanol solutions extracted by Stevenson's method from paddy rice soils, peats, and volcanic ash soils were analyzed. The spectra patterns of both fractions in visible and ultraviolet ranges did not have any peak and the absorbance decreased as the wavelength increased. Visible and ultraviolet spectra of the solutions from all the peats, volcanic ash soils and paddy rice soil were very similar each other but absorbances were slowly declined in the order of volcanic ash soils, peats and mineral paddy soils. The infrared spectra of the two solutions appeared in a typical pattern, showing a few broad peaks. The main absorption bands were in the regions of $3400cm^{-1}$ (hydrogen bonded OH), near $2900cm^{-1}$ (aliphatic CH), $1720cm^{-1}$ (C=O of COOH, C=O of carbonyl), $1625cm^{-1}$ (aromatic C-C conjugated with C=O and/or COO-), $1400-1450cm^{-1}$ (CH stretch), $1200-1250cm^{-1}$ (CaO stretch of phenolic OH or OH-deformation of COOH) and $1050cm^{-1}$. The hymatomelanic acid fractions, however, had spectra that were characterized especially by very distinct absorption at $2900cm^{-1}$ and $1720cm^{-1}$, for aliphatic CH and carbonyl stretching vibration respectively in addition to the weaker bands for COO- or aromatic CH vibration at $1625cm^{-1}$, as compared to humic acid. No differences were noted in the general patterns of the spectograms of both fractions extracted. Analyses of the functional groups revealed little differences between peats and paddy soils, although total acidity and the content of carboxyl groups were decreased in the order of volcanic ash soils, peats and mineral paddy soils.