Self-Association of the Macromolecules of Aldrich Humic Acid in Aqueous Solutions Using Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) Absorption Spectroscopy

The ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectra of the aqueous solutions of humic acids (HA) Aldrich were obtained within the concentration range 1–20 mg/L (0.1–2ċ10^–6mol/L). A conclusion on the existence of the self-association (dimer formation) of HA macromolecules is based on the deviation of the concentration dependence of optical density (OD) from the linear one at [HA] > 10 mg/L (>10^–6mol/L). An original, mathematical algorithm is proposed to determine a dimerization constant K and a molar coefficient of dimer absorption ∊ D ( λ ) The value of K was (2.56 ± 0.07) ċ 10⁶L/mol. The calculated molar coefficients of HA macromolecule dimer absorption, ∊ D ( λ ) , indicate an increase in the dimer extinction coefficient ∊ D ( λ ) compared to the double value of the molar monomer absorption 2 ∊ M ( λ ) . It was established that the spectral dependence of the value β =  ∊ D ( λ ) / ∊ M ( λ ) exhibits a minimum within a wavelength range of 300–450 nm, which is due to the difference in the efficiency of the interaction of various sites upon HA macromolecule dimerization. Thus, an approach of studying the processes of self-association is proposed using the method of UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. This method is implemented for molecules that do not have characteristic absorption bands. The proposed method can also be successfully applied to molecules with characteristic absorption bands.