Fig. 4: Quantitative analysis of possible biochemical reactions in the DOM transformation between PD and SD.

a Van Krevelen Diagram (VKD) with marginal density plots of molecular formulae unique to PD samples, SD samples, and common to the two samples. Possible chemical reactions occurring between different compound classes: b demethylation, c decarboxylation, d dehydration, e dehydrogenation, and f deamination between PD and SD molecules. All the molecules in PD and SD were included in these reaction analyses, and quantitative data for chemical reactions occurred among various compound classes is available in Supplementary Tables 3–7. g The relationship between compound classes and chemical reactions based on principal component analysis (PCA). h Main chemical reactions in the process of lipids, proteins, and lignin degradation.