MARINE AND SEDIMENTARY HUMIC ACIDS IN LIGURIAN SEA

Humic compounds in marine sediments and sea water, together with suspe nded material, have been studied. Sampling stations are placed in Ligu rian sea in front of the towns of Ventimiglia and Imperia. The physico chemical characterization of humics, carried out by elemental analysis , thermogravimetric and spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, and fluorescen ce), has confirmed that both sedimentary and soluble humics are import ant natural compounds as regards chelating and adsorbing capacities. M oreover, soluble humic compounds and suspended material may be conside red good environmental indicators, because their structures seem to '' feel'' the different environmental situations and antropic influences to which the marine ecosystem can be subjected.