Competition between humic substances and α-amino acids by metal species

The aim of the present work was to carry out experimental comparison between humic substances (HS) and representative α-amino acids (methionine, methionine sulfoxide and cysteine hydrochloride) in relation to the complexation of biologically active trace elements (Al, Cu, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cd and Ni). A mobile time-controlled tangential-flow UF technique was applied to differentiate between HS-metal and α-aminoacids-metal complexes. Metal determinations were conventionally carried out using a ICP-OES. The results showed that HS may be considered as a selective complexing agents with higher metal bonding capability in relation to Al, Cu and Pb, the fact that may be clinically important.

Keywords

α-amino acids, Humic substances, Metals, Soils, alpha amino acid, aluminum, cadmium, copper, cysteine, lead, manganese, metal, methionine, methionine sulfoxide, nickel, trace element, zinc, chemical bond, flow, humic substance, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, spectrometry, time, ultrafiltration