Humic Aggregates: Measurement, Mechanisms, and Properties

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sponsored a special session on "Humic Aggregates: Measurement, Mechanisms, and Properties" in honor of Dr. Robert L. Wershaw at the Humic Science and Technology VIII Conference, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, March 16-18, 2005. Dr. Wershaw has made numerous contributions to the field of humic substance research during his 41-year career with the USGS. The special session addressed the aggregation of humic substances, analytical methods for characterization, and the role humic substances have on the fate of contaminants. Humic substances play a significant role in the facilitated transport of toxic metals, the methylation of mercury to the more toxic methylmercury, the creation of disinfection by-products in drinking water, and the biodegradation of contaminants in ground water. Humic Science and Technology Conferences are hosted by Northeastern University's Humic Acid Research Group.

USGS Presentations

• What are Humic Molecules, Supramolecular Aggregates, and Precipitates?, by Jerry A. Leenheer (USGS)
• Interactions Of Mercury With Dissolved Organic Matter In The Everglades: Evidence For Stabilization Of Colloidal Mercuric Sulfide, by George Aiken (USGS), and Joseph N. Ryan (University of Colorado)
• Calcite Crystal Growth Inhibition By Aquatic Humic Substances – Can Humic Substances Serve As Carbonate Scale Inhibitors?, by Michael M. Reddy (USGS)

Conveners

• Jerry A. Leenheer, USGS
• George R. Aiken, USGS

General Conference Information

• Humic Science and Technology Conference Home Page
• Full Conference Agenda (pdf)

Information on Humic Substances Research at the USGS

• Comprehensive Organic Analysis of Water
• Organic Carbon Migration in Aquatic Environments
• Aqueous Crystal Growth and Dissolution Kinetics of Earth Surface Materials
• Biogeochemistry and Environmental Chemistry of Nitrogen
• Behavior of Natural Polyelectrolytes in Water
• Interactions of Mercury with Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Everglades
• Transport of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Benthic Fluxes of Metals and Nutrients
• Drinking-Water Disinfection By-Products Projects (Information on the role dissolved organic carbon has in the formation of trihalomethanes)
• Anaerobic Oxidation of Vinyl Chloride Under Humic-Acid Reducing Conditions

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