1. Incorporation of Sedimentary Organic Matter into Mesopores
Lawrence M. Mayer, University of Maine
20 nm
Organic matter (green) in sediments and soils may be protected by being encapsulation within a network of clay grains (black). Digestive
enzymes (blue smiley face) from bacteria or animals are unable to penetrate the enfolding clay matrix. This inference is consistent with our
finding that most organic matter is held within relatively large pores, which may be separated from open space by pore throats of narrow diameter.
This protective mechanism may account for much of the organic matter sediments and soils, which represent a carbon sink, source material
for hydrocarbons, and a reason for oxygen accumulation in the atmosphere.
Hit arrow twice to animate the enzyme
Organic matter (green) in sediments and soils may be protected by encapsulation within a network of clay grains (black).
Digestive enzymes (blue face) from bacteria or animals are unable to penetrate the enfolding clay matrix. This inference
is consistent with our finding that most organic matter is held within relatively large pores, which may be separated
from open space by pore throats of narrow diameter. This protective mechanism may account for much of the organic matter
sediments and soils, which represent a carbon sink, source material for hydrocarbons, and a reason for oxygen accumulation
in the atmosphere.