Characteristics of humic and fulvic acids in Arabian Sea sediments

119-127Humic and fulvic acids isolated from some of the shelf, slope and offshore sediments of the Arabian Sea were studied. The molecular weight, functional groups, elemental composition and infrared spectra were examined. Humic substances, dominated by humic acids contributed 22-53% of the sedimentary organic matter. The humic acids in turn are dominated by the high molecular weight fraction (>300000). A major portion of fulvic acids was mostly present as