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Nitric Acid Oxidation of the Organic Matter of a Podzol¹

ABSTRACT

The organic matter of the A₀ and B_h horizons of a podzol has been oxidized with 1:1 nitric acid. About 60% of the organic matter of both materials was converted to CO₂. In the oxidation product of the A₀ material, succinic, glutaric, adipic, benzene tetra- and penta-carboxylic and picric acids were identified. The oxidation product of the B_h material contained benzene tetra- and penta-carboxylic and picric acids but no aliphatic carboxylic acids. The acids identified represented about 5% of the original organic matter of both materials. The results suggest that the organic matter of the B_h contained more aromatic structures than that of the A₀ horizon. The possible significance of the acids identified with regard to the chemical structure of the organic matter preparations from both horizons is discussed.

¹ Contribution No. 8, Soil Research Institute, Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario. The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of J. G. Desjardins and wish to thank Dr. A. Benning, Bergbau Forschung, G.M.B.H., Essen, West Germany, for making his Ph.D. thesis available to them. A portion of a paper presented before Div. III. Soil Science Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio. Nov. 16, 1959.

² Research Officers.

Received for publication December 15, 1959. Accepted for publication January 11, 1960.