Binding of proton and iron to lignite humic acid size-fractions in aqueous matrix

金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系The bioavailability of trivalent iron (Fe3+) to plants can be enhanced using fertilizer solutions containing humic acids (HA) as manifested from the increased crop yield at an iron stress conditions. The lignite-derived HA (HAlignite) facilitates higher diffusion of Fe3+ between the soil layers as attributable to more number of reactive sites in the assemblage compared to those from other origins. In the current work, the proton-binding of HAlignite size-fractions (5–10, 10–30, 30–100, and >100 kDa), as segmented based on the molecular weight distribution, and their complexation with Fe3+ have been studied at varying pH ranging from low to high. The protonation or formation of Fe3+-complexes exhibited a comparable pattern despite the differences in the conformational distribution of HAlignite size-fractions. The protonation behavior specified that the behavior of HAlignite size-fractions has similarity with that of a dibasic acid. The results are interpreted using reactive structural units (RSU) concept to show that the carboxyl and phenolic-hydroxyl groups in the HAlignite size-fractions simultaneously available as the Fe3+-binding sites. The stability constants for larger MW fractions of HAlignite (>100 kDa) was the lowest, as attributed to the increased aggregation rate in an aqueous matrix. The trend in conditional stability constants of HAlignite-size fractions and other Fe-chelators point to a better Fe-binding capability of HAlignite (30–100 kDa) size-fraction than the biodegradable alternatives (GLDA, HIDS, EDDS, IDSA, or NTA), while the Fe-interaction was stronger with classical synthetic chelators (EDTA, DTPA, or EDDHA). © 2018 Elsevier B.V.Embargo Period 12 month

Laboratory culture experiments to study the effect of lignite humic acid fractions on iron solubility and iron uptake rates in phytoplankton

The major fractions of dissolved iron in seawater exist as a complex with organic ligands. A high bioavailability of iron bound to humic acid (HA) compared to the other model ligands, such as desferrioxamine B or ferrichrome, has been reported, which implies the importance of HA to control the geochemical behavior and the transfer of Fe to marine phytoplankton, particularly in estuarine and coastal waters. In the current work, the effect of different HA fractions (>100, 100–30, 30–10, 10–5, and 5–3 kDa), which were extracted from lignite, on the comparative solubility of iron in seawater and the corresponding influence on iron uptake and growth rate of the phytoplankton Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyta) was studied using laboratory cultures. The lower-molecular-weight (MW) HA fractions, such as 30–10, 10–5, and 5–3 kDa, remained soluble in the simulated seawater medium for a longer time span compared to the higher MW fractions. The lower MW fractions facilitated higher iron solubility and assisted in achieving a better phytoplankton growth rate. However, a reciprocal impact on phytoplankton growth rates was observed when the HA concentration increased to a higher range (0.18 to 18 mg-C L−1). The highest intracellular Fe uptake in phytoplankton occurred with 30–10 kDa HA in seawater, and the extracellular dissolved Fe concentrations were higher for smaller-sized HA fractions. In summary, our study showed that the controlled addition of lower MW fractions of HA (up to 30–10 kDa) in estuarine waters could ensure the accelerated uptake of Fe in phytoplankton as well as a better growth rate. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media DordrechtEmbargo Period 12 month