TY - JOUR A1 - Marmodée, Bettina A1 - de Klerk, Joost A1 - Ariese, Freek A1 - Gooijer, Cees A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Metal binding by humic substances : characterization by high-resolution-lanthanide-ion-probe-spectroscopy (HR- LIPS) N2 - In ultra-low-temperature experiments at 4.7 K the luminescence of Eu(III) bound to different hydroxy- and methoxybenzoic acids and to humic substances (HS) was investigated. The benzoic acid derivatives were used as simple model compounds for common metal-binding structures in HS. The Eu(III) luminescence was directly excited by means of a pulsed dye laser, scanning through the D-5(0) -> F-7(0) transition of Eu(III) and subsequently, high-resolution total luminescence spectra (TLS) were recorded. Based on the thorough analysis of the high-resolution TLS conclusions were drawn with respect to the number of different complexes formed and to the symmetry of the complexes. The crystal-field strength parameter N-nu(B-2q) was dependent on the electrostatic forces induced by the ligands as well as on the symmetry of the complexes. The formation of thermodynamically stable complexes was found to be slow even for small model ligands such its 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Comparison between the model compounds and HS clearly revealed that the carboxylate group is the dominant binding site in HS. Indices for the formation of chelates, e.g. similar to 2- hydroxybenzoic acid, were not found for HS. Y1 - 2009 UR - http://www.znaturforsch.com/a.htm SN - 0932-0784 ER -