Several analytical techniques have been studied for the analysis and characterization of humic and fulvic compounds of freshwaters. DOC analysis, thermogravimetry, UV absorbance, fluorescence, cascade ultrafiltration, freezing concentration techniques are particularly discussed. The effects of several important factors, e.g. nature and concentration of organic matters, pH, and concentrations of several important factors, e.g. nature and concentration of organic matters, pH, and concentrations of inorganic constituents (particularly Fe(III), Si(IV), Ca(II), HCO ⁻₃ ) on the analytical results, were studied.

Determination of A/DOC, F/DOC and fractionation by cascade ultrafiltration were found to be useful means to characterize the nature of organic matter. But it must be noted that the results of these techniques can be strongly affected by the concentration of fulvic compounds. Adsorption on freshly precipitated CaCO₃ could be one of the important processes of elimination of organic matter.