EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN FREE AND BOUND LIPIDS IN A RENDZINA SOIL IN NATURAL CONDITIONS AND WITH LABORATORY DISTURBANCES

Samples from a rendzina soil (Ap horizon) were incubated directly (con trol) or after supplementation with a C-23 n-alkane, after extraction of free lipids. After incubation (8 weeks), free and bound lipids were extracted and fractioned by LCy. The n-alkanes were analyzed by GC an d GC-MS. In the control, an equilibrium between the free and the bound n-alkanes was established. In the case of free lipid extraction, the equilibrium was restored by desorption of bound n-alkanes. The additio n of eicosane to the free phase induced all additional bonding of natu ral n-alkanes and their transformation into alcohols or acids by a coo xidation process. When eicosane was added to the lipid-extracted sampl es, the desorption of the bound n-alkanes was inhibited and their deco mposition was activated.