Antioxidant Activity of Humic Acids in Radical-Chain Oxidation Processes

The behavior of humic acids in radical-chain oxidation processes was examined by the gas-volumetric method using model hydrocarbons (cumene and ethylbenzene). It was shown that the liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons is inhibited in the presence of humic acids. The hydrocarbon oxidation rate depends on the humic acid concentration. Owing to pronounced inhibitory properties, humic acids can be considered as promising natural antioxidants for biomedical and technical (antioxidants for liquid fuels and oils) applications.