Infrared spectra of Cu2+ Pb2+ and Ca2+ complexes of soil humic substances

An infrared spectroscopic investigation of the complexes of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ca²⁺ with humic and fulvic acids demonstrated the participation of OH and CO groups in addition to COOH in the binding of heavy-metal cations. The degree to which metal-carboxylate linkages are ionic or covalent cannot be accurately determined from the positions of antisymmetric and symmetric carboxylate stretching vibrations due to interference from covalent bonding with other groups. The apparent order of the reaction of three divalent cations with humic and fulvic acids was Cu²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Ca²⁺.