A BSTRACTPyrograms of Ihree fulvic acids (FAs) or ditferenl origins and Ihe corresponding pyrosrams obtaincd by reactive pyrolysis wilh Iclramclhylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) are compared. Thi! proc.cdure inlroduces bolh slriking qualilalive and quanlilalive changes in lhe pyrolylic pallems of Ihe FAs. which are discussed in lerms of Ihe usefulness of Ihis approach lo slructural sludies. Sorne non·pyrolysis compounds (probably relained in Ihe macromolecular fulvic malrix) seem lo be released when Ihe FAs are pyrolysed in lhe presrnce of TMAH. A se{ of benzenecarboxylic acid slandards was also pyrolysed bolh in lhe abscnce and in Ihe prcscncc: oC TMAH. The resulls oblained suggcsl a lhennally assisled chemolysis ralher Ihan i" s;/u melhylalioD of lhe pyrolysis produclS. Fulvic &cids; humic substances; pyrolysiS; tetramelhylammonium hydroxide. INTRODUCTlONHumic substances (HS) are widely distributed in almost all terrestrial and aquatic environments. Owing to their colloidal properties and high runctionality they play important roles in reactions and processes relaled lO the conservation and production of soil ecosystems. which have been recently reviewed [1,2].The complex. variable composition of lhe fulvic acids (FAs) (lhe alkali and acid-soluble collodial humic fraction) has been investigated by many different methods with divergent results. Overall the struclural ínformation gained by analytical pyrolysis (Py) of FA is unexpectedly much lower than that given by the other humic fractíoDS (humic acids and humíos). Thus, FA givcs low yields of Py compounds. with major components bcíng characteristic of $Oíl polysao:harides, and a small numbcr of aromatic compounds, whereas Py of humíc acids gives much richer pyrograms. This

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