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Nitric Acid Oxidation of Danish Illuvial Organic Matter¹

ABSTRACT

Organic matter extracted from the Bh horizon of a Danish Podzol was oxidized with 2N and with 7.5N HNO₃. Oxidation with 2N HNO₃ produced 2.10% nitro phenols and nitro benzoic acids, 0.60% hydroxy benzoic and 3.23% benzene carboxylic acids. The products resulting from oxidation with 7.5N HNO₃ contained 5.50% picric acid, 0.20% hydroxy benzoic and 3.78% benzene carboxylic acids. The yields are expressed on the basis of the original dry ash-free organic matter.

From the results of this and earlier investigations it appears that Danish illuvial organic matter consists primarily of isolated aromatic rings—heavily substituted with oxygen-containing functional groups—that are linked to each other via aliphatic chains or saturated cyclic or hydroaromatic structures. The occurrence in this organic matter of substantial numbers of condensed aromatic ring systems is unlikely.

¹ Contribution No. 202, Soil Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario.

² Visiting scientist from the Technical University of Denmark, Chemical Department A, Copenhagen, and Senior Research Scientist, Canada Department of Agriculture, respectively.

Received for publication July 1, 1966. Accepted for publication September 26, 1966.