Free and esterified aliphatic carboxylic acids in humin and humic acids from a peat sample as revealed by pyrolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide or tetraethylammonium acetate

The combination of TMAH thermochemolysis and TEAAc treatment makes it possible to discriminate between the different forms of mono- and dicarboxylic acids present in the structure of humin and humic acids, that is, “free” uncombined acids, methyl or ethyl esters present as tightly trapped molecules within the matrix, or acids chemically linked to the matrix by ester groups. The results confirm that ester groups are involved in the structure of humin and humic acids. The cross-linking of moieties originating from microbial metabolism or inherited from higher plants is partly ensured by these chemical groups. On the other hand, significant amounts of fatty monocarboxylic acids and linear dicarboxylic acids are present as free acids in the humin of the studied sample. Humin contains also fatty acid methyl esters. Free, uncombined α,ω-dicarboxylic acids were only found in humin.