AN INVESTIGATION ON THE SOIL AND PEAT HUMIC ACIDS. PART II. OXIDATION WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, HOT ALKALI AND CHLORINE DIOXIDE SOLUTION.

A humic acid from peat and another from an Assam tea soil were oxidised by various strengths of H₂O₂ both as pure acid and as the Ca salt. They were also subjected to a method of degradation similar to that used by Freudenberg in connection with lignin. Products of the same nature were isolated. The acids were also oxidised by ClO₂ and oxalic and butyric acids detected in the products.