Caracterisation chimique des composes humiques et de leurs diverses classes de poids moleculaires dans les depots du delta du Rhone

The fractionation of humic acids in various classes of molecular weight species using ultrafiltration (Amicon membranes) and their analysis showed that, close to the river mouth, the large proportion of the high molecular weight humic compounds observed was enriched in phenols and carbohydrates, probably inherited from the terrestrial ligno-cellulosic complex. This process seemed to be superimposed on the increase of molecular weights which is usually observed as the environment becomes purely marine. -from English summary