Definition
In geochemistry, a refractory organic polymer refers to an often poorly structurally defined polymer formed through chemical transformation, for example, during diagenesis. Biological materials, such as the residues of dead organisms or the waste products of living organisms, may accumulate in sediments and form an amorphous “polymer” which may shed some easily hydrolyzed moieties and volatile elements during aging. Some examples of refractory biological organic polymers include kerogen and the humic and fulvic acids. As aging continues, less and less of the polymer is easily hydrolyzed, and the material is said to be refractory. Such polymers may also be derived from abiotically synthesized organic materials, for example, the insoluble organic material found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.
See Also
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Cleaves, H.J.(. (2015). Refractory Organic Polymer. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1362
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1362
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44184-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44185-5
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics