The following researches about the chemical components of coal, especially about huMie acids, which were carried out by many investigators and author were summarized and criticized.
(1) The definitions and separations of humic acids.
(2) Methods of extaction and determination of humic acids.-The authors concluded that the most suitable reagent to extract humic acids from coal was dilute sodium hydroxide aqueous solution.In regard to determination methods, six methods, which included the author's were described.
(3) The elemental constituefits, molecular weights and equivalents of humic acids.-Many reports reference to the elemental constituents, molecular weights and equivalents of humic acids, which included the author's studies were summarized and discussed.
(4) The active radicals in humic acids.-The deteimination methods and results of carboxyl, phenol, ketone, methoxyl and methylene ketone radicals were summarized and criticized.
(5) The derivatives of humic acids.-The derivatives of htunic acids which were obtained by the active radical reactions, the substitution reactions of the hydrogen of the aromatic rings, the reactions, included the partial decompositions of the humic acids molecule, and the coupling reactions were summarized.
(6) Base exchange reactions of humic acids.-In regard to base exchanges of humic acids with various cation, especially the H-Na and H-Ca exchange reactions, the results of measuring equivalent weights and equilibrium constants of humic acids were described.
(7) The decomposition reactions and products of humic acids.-Various reports reference to the thermal decompositions, oxidative decompositions and reductive decompositions were summarized.
(8) The structures of humic acids.-As a rational formula of a model type of humic acids, [C
106H
88O
16 (COOH)
9 (OH)
7 (CO)
4 (OCH
3)] x, [] =2, 282 was proposed.When the active radicals were converted to hydrogen the rational formula turned into [C
106H
106O
16] x viz.C/H=1.From this result humic acids consisted of many simple benzene rings and had many piran rings, piron rings as well as furan rings.
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