Characterization of humic substances isolated from natural waste treated by vermicomposting process

This bachelor thesis deals with the study of humic substances isolated from vermicompost natural waste through spectrometric methods. The aim of this thesis is to study physicochemical properties of the humic substances through modern instrumental techniques such as molecular absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and visible regions of electromagnetic radiation (UV/Vis), infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformationn (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma emission (ICP OES). A research focused on basic information about the humic substances was developed in the theoretical part. A description about their distribution or structure was made and also their utilization in medicine, industry or ecology. Then, methods, which are used for study of the humic substances, were described as well. An essential part of the thesis was isolation of humic and fulvic acid from the vermicompost natural waste. Absorption coefficients were calculated from the measured UV/VIS spectrum which served to following characterization of HK and FK. FTIR spectrum was used to determination of functional groups of studied HL. An area of biogenic elements was specified using the elementary analysis. Total amount of studied trace elements was determined with with the help of ICP-OES