Isolation and chemical characterization of resistant macromolecular constituents in microalgae and marine sediments

Abstract

The recognition of novel, insoluble and non-hydrolysable macromolecular constituents in protective tissues of fresh-water algae and higher plants has had a major impact on our understanding of the origin and fate of sedimentary organic matter (OM) in terrestrial and lacustrine deposits. The investigations described in this thesis aim to explore if such macromolecules also occur in the marine environment and if so, what the consequences are for our understanding of OM in marine sediments and for the mechanisms of marine oil formation.