SEDIMENTARY HUMIC ACIDS IN THE CONTINENTAL-MARGIN OF THE ROSS SEA (ANTARCTICA)

Humic acids (HA) extracted from Antarctic marine sediments were characterized using different techniques (FTIR, NMR, Thermogravimetry, Elemental Analysis and Ionic Exchange Chromatography). Antarctic sedimentary HA show a greater content of nitrogen and a predominant aliphatic nature when compared with data reported in the literature for non Antarctic HA samples. Some differences in the structures, such as the presence of aromatic carbon rings, carbohydrates, fatty acids, etc., have been observed, as a function of sampling zones. The differences are probably due to a different humification process, possibly depending on different trends of temperature and salinity measured down to the water column.