Humic acids present in the soils at the vicinity of domestic atomic power plants(NPPs), located in Yeongkwang(YK), Uljin(UJ), Kori(KR), Koseong(KS), Wolseong(WS) area were isolated, and characterized using elemental analysis and UV/Vis, IR, CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopic methods. The characteristics were compared with one another and with commercial humic acid (Aldrich Co.). Molecular size distributions of the humic acids were determined using a stirred cell ultrafiltration technique. The results of elemental analysis showed that soil humic acid from UJ contains higher oxygen content than humic acids from KR and KS (O/C ratios: 0.51 (UJHA) us. 0.45(KRHA), 0.43(KSHA)). The molecular size distribution revealed that the soil humic acids of UJ and YK contained a higher percentage of larger molecules of > 30,000 daltons, compared to those of KR and KS. The spectral features obtained from UV/vis., IR and CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR showed that the aromatic character and oxygen containing functional groups in the humic acids from UJ and YK were relatively higher than those of KR and KS. These results indicate that the soil humic acids from UJ and YK were in a higher degree of humification, which may suggest higher affinity of the humic acids with radionuclides released in the soil environments.
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