Overview

This book describes the structural features and properties of important types of hydrocarbons and lipids and gives an overview of their analytical characterization in biological and environmental matrices. It covers the occurrence, biosynthesis and biological functions of these compound types in diverse organisms including bacteria and archaea, algae, higher plants and arthropods. It examines their distribution in the geosphere and fundamental processes controlling the fate of fossil organic matter. Finally, it addresses important aspects of their environmental chemistry and transfer processes between different compartments of bio- and geosphere. Hydrocarbons and lipids comprise extremely diverse organic compounds that play fundamental roles in biosphere and geosphere. They represent important functional components in all living organisms and constitute a major fraction of fossil organic matter in sedimentary systems. All chapters are written by renowned experts in the respective fields.

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9783319905709

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Heinz Wilkes studied chemistry at the University of Hamburg. During his Ph.D., he investigated the bacterial degradation of dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and other aromatic compounds. He was a Research Scientist in the Institute of Petroleum and Organic Geochemistry at the Research Centre Julich and in the Organic Geochemistry Section at the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam. Since 2015, he is a Full Professor of Organic Geochemistry at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment where he is responsible for the B.Sc. program in Environmental Sciences. His research has focused on molecular mechanisms of biogeochemical key reactions and metabolic pathways in microorganisms; the origin, fate, and transformation of hydrocarbons and petroleum in the environment and in the geosphere; and the reconstruction of past environments and climates using organic-geochemical proxy parameters. For many years he has been particularly interested in elucidating degradation pathways of hydrocarbons in anaerobic bacteria. He has published more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals and books. Since 2015, he is a Member of the Board of the European Association of Organic Geochemists.

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