Characteristics of biological carbon monoxide formation from soil organic matter, humic acids, and phenolic compounds

The abiological CO formation from soil and humic acids is a thermally sensitized process following the Arrhenius equation. The magnitude of the Arrhenius constant (activation entropy) and the activation energy decreased with increasing moisture content and pH, i.e., conditions favoring the solubilization of the humic acid polymers. CO was also formed from various phenolic compounds provided that water or preferably alkali was added. The CO formation was stimulated by an oxygen atmosphere but was not inhibited by the addition of chemicals quenching singlet oxygen, superoxide, or hydroxyl radicals. (IFU)