History of organic acids

Internet

Internal Publications

Definitions, applications and functions

A historical overview

1786 – 1899

F K Achard was the first person to attempt the extraction of humic sustances from peat. In 1804 T de Saussure used the Latin word humus (which means 'soil') to name the dark colored organic material. C Sprengel did the first study of origin and chemical nature of humic substances in 1826. The second half of the 19th century was characterized with the classification scheme for the isolation of new products from composted plant residue, ground and artificial mixes that was prepared in the laboratory. At the end of the 19th century it was discovered that humic substances is a complex mixture of organic components, which mostly has a colloidal nature with weak acid features.

1900 – 1979

During the period 1900 – 1940 new attempts were made to classify the nature and structure of humic sustances. S Owen made an important contribution during 1914 – 1919 with the classification of: humic coal, humic acid, humatomelenic acid and fulvic acid. In 1930 A Smook did a detailed study on the nature and structure of humic substances formed with microorganisms in ground. M M Kononova from Russia contributed an important part to the combining of humin discoveries and published a book “Soil Organic Matter” in 1966. Russia played an important role in humin combinations.

1980 – 1999

In the eighties people such as F J Stevenson continued on the discoveries on humin combinations. Stevenson published a book in 1982 Humus Chemistry – Genesis, Composition, Reactions which was given out a second time in 1994 with more and better information. In the nineties few publications on humic substances was published that included information such as process, structure and the influence on plant growth and soil.

A handful of these publications from the nineties are: Senesi 1991 – 1993, Govi et al. 1991, Inbar 1990, Malcolm 1991, Pal 1992, Van der Venter et al. 1991, Biondi et al. 1994, Duker et al. 1994, Van Rensburg et al. 1996, Furter 1996, Hayes 1996.

Internet

The following keywords can be found on the internet for more information: humic acid, fulvic acid, humic substances and humin.

Publications

Dr. Izak Cronje and co-workers has already published various patents, as well as papers at congresses, to contribute the humic combinations.

Herewith a few patents, publications and papers:

Cronje I J 1988. Process for the Oxidation of Coals. S. Afr. Patent, 88/4770, USA Patent 07/216,233.
Non-catalytic oxidation of water-slurried coal with oxygen. A promising new route to oxihumic and oxifulvic acids (7th Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference 10-14: 1990)
Biological evaluation of Bituminous coal-derived humic substances in two soil types at two different pH values (Journal of South African Horticultural Science 6(1): 1996)
Application of Fe and Zn to lime-rich soils in the form of formulated coal products (The Science of the total Environment 117/118:1992).
Stimulation of seedling root growth by coal-derived sodium humate (Plant and Soil 138 : 1991)
Effect of Coal-derived potassium humate on greenhouse cut roses: Economical advantages due to physiological and growth effects (8th Congress of Southern African Society for Horticultural Sciences 23 : 1999).
Root growth stimulation and yield effects in grapevines resulting from coal-derived potassium humate treatment (8th Congress of Southern African Society for Horticultural Sciences 26 : 1999).
Effect of coal-derived potassium humate on the anatomy, growth and physiology of young litchi (Litchi schinensis Sonn.) trees. (8th Congress of Southern African Society for Horticultural Sciences 39 : 1999).