Hymatomelanic Acid

The ethanol-soluble subfraction of humic acid — separated from “true” humic acid by treating the alkaline-extraction precipitate with ethanol. What dissolves is hymatomelanic acid; what stays solid is humic acid proper. Because of this, older or less detailed analyses often lump hymatomelanic acid in with humic acid rather than reporting it separately.

Plain-Language Summary

The least well-known of the three main humic acid fractions (humic acid, fulvic acid, hymatomelanic acid), but locally significant: it’s been documented in unusually high concentration in Estonian peat research — up to 19.3% of dry weight in Pärnu-area (Parika) deposits, roughly a third of total humic substances at that site. Its molecular weight sits between fulvic and humic acid (2–3x smaller than humic acid), and it correlates strongly with peat’s lipid content, suggesting it may act as a carrier for fatty acids, waxes, and other lipid-soluble bioactives.

Where the Data Lives

This page is a plain-language orientation. For the full evidence-graded list of biological activities and the specific studies behind each claim, see Hymatomelanic Acids.