Thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation of dissolved organic matter in dripping waters from the Altamira Cave

摘要

Dissolved organic matter from dripping waters collected in the cave of Altamira was studied by thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and was discovered to be composed of fatty acids and lignin derivatives. A water-soluble extract from the top soil also showed similar compounds, although in different percentages, suggesting that soil organic matter and bacterial cell lipids are likely the origin of the organic carbon found in dripping waters.