Mechanochemical modification of peat humic acids

It was demonstrated that the mechanochemical modification of humic acids in the presence of iron oxyhydroxides facilitated the occurrence of solid-phase reactions due to an increase in the concentrations of phenol, carboxyl, and methoxy groups and quinoid fragments. The modified humic acids possessed an increased catalytic activity caused by the presence of quinoid fragments, phenol hydroxyls, and the humic complexes of transition metals.