HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT AND ACID EXTRACTABLE CHLOROPHYLL DEGRADATION PRODUCTS IN THE BLACK-SEA - NEW SINKS FOR CHLOROPHYLL

Chlorophyll degradation products incorporated into solvent-extractable high molecular weight material and into material which is only access ible with strong acid are identified. In surface sediment, the acid-ex tractable chlorophyll degradation products and the solvent-extractable high molecular weight chlorophyll degradation products each comprise approx. 30% of total sedimentary chlorophyll degradation products. In the high molecular weight phorbin fraction, only phorbins derived from chlorophyll a were identified, whereas in the acid-extractable materi al, porphyrins as well as phorbins derived from chlorophyll a were ide ntified. The acid-extractable fraction contains approximately one-half the amount of porphyrins and phorbins as does the solvent-extractable material.