Studies of Thermal Transformation of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Soils Ii. Thermogravimetry

The thermogravimetry and differential curves of the humic and fulvic acids in the soils from five areas of China were determined and the peaks of these curves were classified according to the results of infra-red (IR) spectra at high temperature and pyrolysis-mass spectra (Py/Ms). the kinetic parameters for heat-degradation of these humic and fulvic acids were calculated by the Coast-Redfern method. the initial temperatures, the final temperatures, and the peaks of DTG curves, the activation energies, the reaction orders and the percentages of weight loss at different reaction stages for these samples were analysed. Thus, the similarity of thermal transformation of humic and fulvic acids in the soils from different areas of China was demonstrated. in addition, the DTA curves of red earth HA and FA were determined.