Extraction of humic substances from fresh waters on solid-phase cartridges and their study by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Abstract

Humic substances (HS) have been extracted from fresh waters on macroporous adsorbents of different types, Amberlite XAD-8 resin and Bond Elute PPL solid-phase cartridge. Comparative analysis of the extracted samples by ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry demonstrated selectivity of the selected adsorbents to the components of the molecular assembly of HS: the XAD-8 resin has affinity to the higher oxidized aromatic compounds and PPL has affinity to substances of stronger aliphatic character and nitrogen-containing compounds. Because of this fact, a comparison of the molecular composition of HS isolated from various sources must be performed taking into account selective adsorption; therefore, it is necessary to compare the products extracted by the same adsorbent for correct interpretation.