The multitude of benefi cial properties of humic acids (HA), due, among other, to the presence of numerous functional

groups in their structure, determines their increasing industrial use, not only in agriculture but also as feed components or

ingredients in food supplements. The continuous increase in demand for these substances determines their high market value

and prompts the search for effi cient methods to isolate them from natural raw materials. However, in addition to the high

isolation effi ciency of humic acids, the quality aspect is equally important when selecting extraction methods, and the extraction

method should not cause changes within the natural structure of the macromolecules. In the present study, a complex

analysis of the application of low-intensity ultrasound-assisted extraction (LI-UAE) for the isolation of humic acids from

peat was presented. Based on the fractional factorial design and statistical analysis, the infl uence of the parameters of the

LI-UAE process on the effi ciency of humic acids extraction with the use of NaOH and NH 4 OH solutions as extractants was

described. The polynomial models, which defi ned the effi ciency of the extraction process as a function of the most important

parameters, were proposed, and the optimal extraction conditions were identifi ed for both extactants tested. On the basis

of the results, it was concluded that the use of ultrasound increases the amount of extracted humic acids, compared to the

traditional process. Moreover, qualitative analysis of the products, using spectroscopic methods, did not show signifi cant

diff erences in the molecular structure of the humic acids, which were extracted in the processes studied.