Humic Substances: Structure, Function, Effects and Applications
Humic substances (HS) are organic matters formed during the physical, chemical and microbiological transformation process of dead tissue of animal and plant. It is present ubiquitously in soil, sediments and aquatic environment. HS contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen with small amount of sulfur. These elements are always present regardless of their origin and country. The macromolecular structures of HS are highly sensitive to different chemical conditions of solution. Their reactivity in an environment depends on the functional groups, macromolecular structure and concentration. HS exhibit dual aspects. The presence of Humic Acid (HA) in a water supply is undesirable as they raise total organic pollution level, colour intensity, distinct absorbing capacity and chemical activities. They have capability to induce cytotoxicity for many mammalian cells and are cause factor of many diseases. On the other hand specific properties of HA products enable their application in agriculture, industry, environment and biomedicine.
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