ABSTRACT
The combination of selective chemistry followed by Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is potentially a powerful tool in the analysis of complex organic materials such as humic substances and coal. This chapter describes the uses, problems, and resolutions to the problems in the combination of specific organic chemistry with subsequent NMR analysis for the study of humic substances and coals. One of the most common methods for analyzing the ketone and aldehyde functionality of humic and fulvic acids is to react the material with hydroxylamine with subsequent determination of the carboxyl content through back-titration of the excess reagent. Much of the environmental significance of humic substances, such as their chelation of toxic metal ions, is believed to result from their oxygen functionalities.
