5 research outputs found
Structural assignment and catagenetic behaviour of macromolecular constituents of recent and fossil natural resins
Applied Science
Resistant biomacromolecules as major contributors to kerogen
Current research concerning the chemical characterization of organic macromolecules present in well-preserved
fossilized materials with known morphologies revealed by (electron) microscopic studies results
in the recognition of unknown, resistant biomacromolecules in a variety of organisms. It is shown that
highly aliphatic, non-saponifiable biomacromolecules in cell walls of algae (algaenans) have unique
structures, probably as a result of different biosynthetic pathways and that they consist of n-alkyl-,
isoprenoid and tricyclic alkyl units. It is also becoming clear that algaenans are structurally different from
the highly aliphatic, non-saponifiable biomacromolecules occurring in plant cuticles (cutans), periderm
tissue (suberans), some sporopollenins and in tegmens of seeds of water plants. All these types of aliphatic
biomacromolecules are highly resistant and therefore selectively preserved in the geosphere. In particular,
Type I and II kerogens consist mainly, in some cases exclusively, of these aliphatic biomacromolecules.
Polysesquiterpenoids and polyditerpenoids occur in fresh and fossil angiosperm and gymnosperm resins
respectively and also show resistant behaviour in the geosphere. Some waxy crude oils contain large
amounts of compounds derived from these substances after thermal cracking.
A completely new polyphenol type of biomacromolecule was encountered in several fossilized outer
walls of seeds (testae) of water plants. Preliminary results indicate that this phenolic biomacromolecule
is an alternative source of phenolic moieties in lignites and coals. The significance of lignin as a source of
phenolic moieties in subsurface organic matter (e.g. vitrinites) is probably overestimated