Pyrolytic characterization of humic acids in relation to carbon sequestration mechanisms in representative soils from the basque country (Northern Spain)

Comunicación y póster presentados al citado simposio, celebrado del 17-20 de septiembre, 2002, en Leoben (Austria).Curie-Point analytical pyrolysis was used for the assessment of soil organic matter accumulation processes in representative ecosystems from the Basque Country (Northem Spain). The aim of the study is to identify the main mechanisms of carbon sequestration by carrying out a semiquantitative appraisal of biogeochemical processes ranging from selective preservation of plant macromolecular material to complex processes involving extensive depolymerization of plant-inherited constituents followed by synthesis of humic-type substances.Peer reviewe

Quantitation of oxidized triglyceride monomers and dimers as an useful measurement for early and advanced stages of oxidation

Quantitation of oxidized triglyceride monomers and dimers is reported as a good measurement for early and advanced stages of oxidation. Applicability of this approach to follow-up oxidation was tested in samples of trilinolein and methyl linoleate stored at either room temperature or 60°C for different periods of time. Oxidized monomers, dimers and polymers were determined in 50 mg-samples by adding monostearin as internal standard and applying a combination of adsorption chromatography, using silica cartridges, followed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. Additionally, peroxide values and tocopherol contents were measured. Results showed that a significant rise of dimeric compounds denoted the end of the induction period while oxidized monomers were the only group of compounds showing a progressive increase during the early stages of oxidation

Oxidative stability of sunflower oils differing in unsaturation degree during long-term storage at room temperature

The objective of this work was to study the evolution of oxidation in sunflower oils differing in unsaturation degree during long-term storage at room temperature. For this purpose, a combination of adsorption and size-exclusion chromatographies was used for quantification of oxidized triacylglycerol (TG) monomers, dimers, and polymers. Conventional sunflower oil, genetically modified high-oleic sunflower oil, and a 1∶1 mixture of the two were used. Results showed that oxidized TG monomers were the only group of oxidation compounds increasing during the early oxidation stage, and an excellent correlation was found between amounts of oxidized TG monomers and PV during the induction period, independently of the degree of oil unsaturation. Both the rate of formation and the amount of oxidized TG monomers accumulated at the end of the induction period increased as the unsaturation degree of the oils tested was higher. The end of the induction period was marked by the initiation of polymerization and exhaustion of tocopherol. Therefore, the concomitant determination of oxidized TG monomers and polymerization compounds provided a complete picture of the oxidation process.This work was funded by “Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología” (project ALI 2001-0505) and Junta de Andalucía.Peer reviewe