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Geochemistry of marine humic compounds
Marine Geology, 78 (1988) 311
311
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam-- Printed in The Netherlands Book Review
Geochemistry of Marine Humic Compounds. M.A. Rashid, Springer, New York, N.Y., 1985, x i i + 300 pp., DM 240.00 (hardback), ISBN 0-387-96135-6. Over the last twenty years there has been a surge in research into humic compounds not just because they constitute the major form of organic matter in the sea and recent sediments, but also because they are intimately involved in the control of soil and marine fertility, trace metal speciation, mobilization of organic pollutants, and surface chemistry of clays. Consequently, several books on humic compounds have recently been published together with symposia proceedings by the newly formed International Humic Substance Society. M.A. Rashid's '~Geochemistry of Marine Humic Compounds" represents a thoroughly researched and integrated book covering all major reports on marine aquatic and terrestrial humic substances published up to 1981. The book is published in a logical sequence of chapters with following title and contents:
richment and solution complexation of trace elements, acidity, cation exchange capacity, coagulation, redox chemistry.
(5) Reactions with Sedimentary Minerals. Humic sorption and binding into clays, dissolution of ores, humic-clay rheology.
(6) Diagenetic transformation of Humic Compounds. Kerogenesis, catagenesis, metagenesis.
(7) Paleo- and Contemporary Environmental Implications of Humic Compounds. Sedimentary humics as paleoclimatic and paleotemperature records. Humic binding with pesticides, hydrocarbons, toxic metals, radio nuclides.
(8) Role of Humic Compounds in Aquatic Productivity. Humic conditioning of seawater
component chemistry of different humic compounds. Elemental ÷ molecular weight analysis, isotopic (~13C, ~15N, ~D, ~34S) and functional group analyses. Physical properties.
for stimulating phytoplankton growth, detoxification of trace metals, nutrient interactions, eutrophication. I found Rashid's book extremely stimulating and a veritable Alladin's cave of both major and less well known papers, all integrated with remarkable clarity of thought and presentation. When one considers the complexity and diversity of humic research this is a remarkable achievement. Recently discovered or developed topics on marine humics (e.g., marine photochemistry, new spectroscopic studies (GC-MS, py-MS, NMR etc.), speciation thermo dynamics etc) are not adequately covered because although the book was published in late 1985, the most recent citations are 1981--and this arose from Rashid's unfortunate illness. Nevertheless, I thoroughly recommend this book as a key reference tome on marine humics consolidating all work up to 1981 into a clearly written treatise.
(4) Organic-Metal Reactions and their Geochemical Significance. Geochemical en-
R.F.C. MANTOURA(Plymouth)
(1) Origin and Distribution of Organic Compounds in the Marine Environment. Evolutionary, paleochemical and global distribution of major organic carbon reservoirs.
(2) Humification--a Major Biogeochemical Phenomenon. Biopolymer chemistry, humification pathways.
(3) Physicochemical Characteristics of Marine Humic Compounds. Comparative structural and
311
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam-- Printed in The Netherlands Book Review
Geochemistry of Marine Humic Compounds. M.A. Rashid, Springer, New York, N.Y., 1985, x i i + 300 pp., DM 240.00 (hardback), ISBN 0-387-96135-6. Over the last twenty years there has been a surge in research into humic compounds not just because they constitute the major form of organic matter in the sea and recent sediments, but also because they are intimately involved in the control of soil and marine fertility, trace metal speciation, mobilization of organic pollutants, and surface chemistry of clays. Consequently, several books on humic compounds have recently been published together with symposia proceedings by the newly formed International Humic Substance Society. M.A. Rashid's '~Geochemistry of Marine Humic Compounds" represents a thoroughly researched and integrated book covering all major reports on marine aquatic and terrestrial humic substances published up to 1981. The book is published in a logical sequence of chapters with following title and contents:
richment and solution complexation of trace elements, acidity, cation exchange capacity, coagulation, redox chemistry.
(5) Reactions with Sedimentary Minerals. Humic sorption and binding into clays, dissolution of ores, humic-clay rheology.
(6) Diagenetic transformation of Humic Compounds. Kerogenesis, catagenesis, metagenesis.
(7) Paleo- and Contemporary Environmental Implications of Humic Compounds. Sedimentary humics as paleoclimatic and paleotemperature records. Humic binding with pesticides, hydrocarbons, toxic metals, radio nuclides.
(8) Role of Humic Compounds in Aquatic Productivity. Humic conditioning of seawater
component chemistry of different humic compounds. Elemental ÷ molecular weight analysis, isotopic (~13C, ~15N, ~D, ~34S) and functional group analyses. Physical properties.
for stimulating phytoplankton growth, detoxification of trace metals, nutrient interactions, eutrophication. I found Rashid's book extremely stimulating and a veritable Alladin's cave of both major and less well known papers, all integrated with remarkable clarity of thought and presentation. When one considers the complexity and diversity of humic research this is a remarkable achievement. Recently discovered or developed topics on marine humics (e.g., marine photochemistry, new spectroscopic studies (GC-MS, py-MS, NMR etc.), speciation thermo dynamics etc) are not adequately covered because although the book was published in late 1985, the most recent citations are 1981--and this arose from Rashid's unfortunate illness. Nevertheless, I thoroughly recommend this book as a key reference tome on marine humics consolidating all work up to 1981 into a clearly written treatise.
(4) Organic-Metal Reactions and their Geochemical Significance. Geochemical en-
R.F.C. MANTOURA(Plymouth)
(1) Origin and Distribution of Organic Compounds in the Marine Environment. Evolutionary, paleochemical and global distribution of major organic carbon reservoirs.
(2) Humification--a Major Biogeochemical Phenomenon. Biopolymer chemistry, humification pathways.
(3) Physicochemical Characteristics of Marine Humic Compounds. Comparative structural and