Structure and origin of insoluble and non-hydrolyzable, aliphatic organic matter in a forest soil

Insoluble, non-hydrolyzable, macromolecular organic matter was shown to occur in substantial amounts in the loamy, acid, forest soil found in Lacadée (South–west France). The chemical structure of resistant organic material isolated from the Lacadée soil was examined by a combination of spectroscopic (solid state 13C NMR, FTIR) and pyrolytic (Curie-point flash Py/GC/MS) methods. The origin of this non-hydrolyzable, aliphatic, material and its relationship with cutans and suberans from higher plants were also considered.