Cross polarization, magic-angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of soil humic fractions

Abstract Cross polarization, magic-angle spinning 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to characterize humic fractions isolated from different soils. The acid fractions are more aromatic than the humin fractions, probably due to the higher polyssaccharide content of humins. However, fulvic acid fractions are more aromatic than the corresponding humic acid and humin fractions. These results can be interpreted in terms of the isolation procedure, because the high affinity of Polyclar AT for phenols results in higher aromaticities as compared with other isolation methods (e.g. charcoal).