FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ALKALINE PERMANGANATE OXIDATION OF ORGANIC MATTER EXTRACTED FROM A PODZOL Bh HORIZON

Abstract

Organic matter extracted from a Podzol Bh horizon was oxidized with alkaline permanganate. The oxidation product was extracted with organic solvents. The material soluble in the organic solvents was methylated and then distilled under vacuum. By means of gas chromatography the methyl esters of the following benzene carboxylic acids were identified in the distillate and estimated quantitatively: 0.03% o-phthalic acid, 0.05% trimellitic acid, 0.05% pyromellitic acid, 0.05% prehnitic acid, 0.06% mellophanic acid, 0.08% benzene pentacarboxylic acid, and 0.06% mellitic acid. These yields are expressed on the basis of the original dry ash-free organic matter.The compounds identified are discussed in relation to the probable chemical structure of the organic matter and to previous investigations on the same organic matter.