Conductometric characterization of dissolved humic materials

Conductometric replacement titrations of humic and fulvic acids dissolved in a slight excess of hydroxide were carried out with standard acid. The slope of the titration curve corresponding to the protonation of humate/fulvate was related to the electrophoretic mobility of the polyanions or aggregates, and hence to their dimensions. Promising qualitative agreement was found between sizes of a number of these species and their conductance slopes. Both the separation of humic fractions and size reduction by photolysis and sonication led to the anticipated decrease in slope. The slight reduction in slope observed during the course of the titration was tentatively ascribed to contraction of the expanded (drained) humic aggregates.