Capillary electrophoresis for a ''finger-print'' characterization of fulvic and humic acids

Capillary zone electrophoresis is suitable for characterizing fulvic and humic acids of different origins and for developing a ''finger-print'' catalogue that is based of the functionality of these acids. Several fulvic and humic acids of different origins were investigated by capillary zone electrophoresis. The goal of this investigation was to assign their different functional properties to their origin based on their individual charge-to-size ratios. The electropherograms of the humic and fulvic acids show individual patterns. The substances show differences in their migration behavior and in their UV absorption. These characteristics are due to different charge-to-size ratios and various structural properties of the individual components of humic and fulvic acids caused by their different origin.