Abstract
A termite ( Macrotermes michaelseni) fungus comb was separated into fractions: base-soluble humic acid (HA) (40 w/w%), base- and acid-soluble fulvic acid (FA) (20 w/w%) and base- and acid-insoluble humin (40 w/w %). Each fraction was characterized by chemical methods and 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy. Each contained paraffins, proteinaceous materials, carbohydrates, aromatics and CO 2H groups. The humin was especially rich in carbohydrates which constituted about 70% of its total weight. The carbohydrates in the humin appeared to occur in highly crystalline forms which may account for their stability in the ecosystem. The humin contained only small amounts of aromatics in contrast to the HA and FA fractions, about 30% of whose carbon was aromatic.
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