Abstract
The humic acid, which was obtained from Onoura bituminous coal boiling with 1N HNO3, was hydrogenated in the presence of Raney Ni under hydrogen pressure.
The results of chemical analysis and infra-red spectrum of the products indicate that the functional groups of humic acid are hydrogenated at the reaction temperature below 170°C, but, above 250°C, the chemical change is rather analogous to the artificial coalification process.Considering the hydrogenation process, it is concluded that the rational formula of Onoura humic acid, which was reported previously, is legitimate.
The results of reduction humic acid with solution of sodium in liquid ammonia lead to the conclusion that the Onoura humic acid contains 0.9 atom of etheroxygen per molecular weight 604.
