title: Effects of the maturity of wood waste compost on the structural features of humic acids.
abstract: An analytical scheme for the separation of humic substances (HSs) and non-humic substances (non-HSs) was established to estimate the humification index (HI), which was defined as the ratio of HS carbon content to non-HS carbon content. The alkaline compost-extract contained a mixture of HSs and non-HSs, while acidification of the compost-extract resulted in precipitation of humic acid (HA). The acidified supernatant contained fulvic acid (FA) and non-HSs. In the present study, DAX-8 resin was used to separate FA and non-HSs. HI values, which were estimated to evaluate the maturity of wood waste compost, increased with composting duration. To determine the effects of compost maturity on HA structural features, correlations between HI and indicators of the degree of HA humification (atomic ratios, acidic functional group contents, spectroscopic parameters and molecular weight) were investigated. HI values were significantly related to the indicators of the extent of HA humification during composting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Solid Waste, Resources and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan. m-fukush@eng.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ootsuka
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komai
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aramaki
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Shigekazu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiya
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006812:Humic Substances; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012987:Soil