Characterization of humic substances using capillary electrophoresis with photodiode array and laser-induced fluorescence detection

Electrophoresis. 1997 Feb;18(2):292-9. doi: 10.1002/elps.1150180219.

Abstract

The effect of organic modifiers (organic solvents and urea) on the electrophoretic buffer was investigated in an attempt to enhance resolution in the finger-printing of two humic substances (HS): an aquatic fulvic acid (FA) and a soil humic acid (HA). Two detection modes, photodiode array and laser-induced fluorescence, were applied. The addition of organic solvents (acetonitrile, acetone, 2-propanol and tetrahydrofuran) in 10 mM Na2B4O7 (pH 9.0) resulted in a clear difference in electrophoretic behavior of the studied HS compared to the absence of organic solvents. There were also marked differences in the electrophoretic profiles using a 2-propanol-borate buffer with urea. The study of the interaction between metals and HS showed that there was a change in the migration pattern in the presence of A1(III), indicating the specific binding sites of aluminum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Propanol / chemistry
  • Acetone / chemistry
  • Acetonitriles / chemistry
  • Benzopyrans / analysis*
  • Borates / chemistry
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary*
  • Fluorescence
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Humic Substances / analysis*
  • Lasers
  • Metals
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Urea / chemistry

Substances

  • Acetonitriles
  • Benzopyrans
  • Borates
  • Furans
  • Humic Substances
  • Metals
  • Solvents
  • borax
  • Acetone
  • tetrahydrofuran
  • Urea
  • 1-Propanol
  • fulvic acid
  • acetonitrile