Paleochemistry
Under Paläochemie means the field of chemistry , which, for with the chemical study of prehistoric finds. B. Fossils . In relation to its main task, paleochemistry can also be called paleobiochemistry . Similar sub-sciences in the natural sciences, albeit with a different focus, are paleobiology , paleontology and geochemistry .
tasks
One of the main tasks of paleochemistry is to study the processes that take place in the formation of fossils , or fossilization . Ultimately, this also partly includes studies that deal with the formation of coal and hydrocarbons ( oil , natural gas ) from organisms.
In particular, the tasks include examinations
- of fossil resins , e.g. B. of amber ,
- of proteins , in particular scleroproteins ( collagen , conchiolin ), or their amino acid sequences , Holocene organisms,
- the degree of racemization (proportion of D- / L- amino acids ) for age determination in addition to the radiocarbon method ,
- of porphyrin derivatives in rocks and petroleum in connection with the investigation of chlorophyll types ,
- of high-molecular natural substances such as fossil lignins and kerogens , organic substances that can no longer be extracted from rocks with solvents.
Ultimately, paleochemistry can also make a contribution to the development of life in models .
Methods
The first step in the investigations is to isolate the organic material either by dissolving it out with organic solvents in the Soxhlet extractor or with ultrasound or by dissolving the inorganic part, which is possible with limestone with mineral acids .
In further steps, chromatographic separation processes, such as column chromatography , thin-layer chromatography or gas chromatography , and the whole range of spectroscopic methods are used to characterize the isolated substances.
literature
- Norbert Vávra: Paleochemistry, Chemistry in Our Time, 14th year 1980, No. 4, p. 115