The structural features and biological activity of humic acids from coals

摘要

The cytogenetic activity of humic acids extracted from brown coals and their effect on both the germination of corn seeds and the yield of barley and wheat were studied. They induce no chromosomal aberrations in plants when applied at concentrations of 4.03 to 160 mg/l. The biological activity of humic acids depends on the treatment of coal, the relative content of constituents with a molecular weight over 10000, the content of carboxyl and phenolic OH groups, and macromolecule charges.