Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4): 112-121.doi: 10.11978/2015129CSTR: 32234.14.2015129

• Marine Environment • Previous Articles    

Research on distribution of humus and characterization of humic acids in offshore sediments of Leizhou Peninsula

XIE Qun1, 2, GUO Chuling2, DANG Zhi2, SUN Xingli1   

  1. 1. Monitoring Center for Marine Resources and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China;
    2. College Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • Received:2015-10-19 Online:2016-07-29 Published:2016-08-04
  • Contact: GUO Chuling. Email:clguo@scut.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    Public science and technology research funds projects of ocean (201305038-6); Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(2013B021600015)

Abstract: Humus and humic acids in offshore sediments have certain indicative effects on marine environmental pollutions, which have great influences on migration and transformation of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. The compositions of humus in sediments were determined by the methods of sodium pyrophosphate-sodium hydroxide extraction and potassium dichromate volumetric; and the humic acids extracted by the method of NaOH alkaline extraction were characterized by the methods of elemental analysis, UV, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), etc. The results showed that the content of humus was very low in surface sediments of Leizhou Peninsula, between 0.26% and 2.36%, with an average of 1.49%, in which fulvic acid accounted for 51%, humin accounted for 35% and humic acid accounted for 14%. Humic acids accounted for 65% of the total humus. Humic acids in marine sediments of Leizhou Peninsula were mainly fulvic acid and small organic compounds. The carbon content was high, and the sulfur content was low with benzene ring, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phenolic hydroxyl, carbonyl, and amine functional groups. Humic substances in offshore marine sediments of Leizhou Peninsula belonged to low degree of humification. These research results provided some guidance for coastal economic development and environmental protection of Leizhou Peninsula.

Key words: Humus, Humic acids, marine sediments, Leizhou Peninsula

CLC Number: 

  • X132