Soil organic matter (SOM) have successfully been fractionated using physicochemical methods for many decades. Although, no single method will absolutely separate natural organic matter into its components, as there are several types of organic matter i.e. kerogen carbon (KC), hydrolysable carbon (HC), non-hydrolysable carbon (NHC), black carbon (BC) and aged organic carbon (AOC). A hybrid of physical (density or particle size separation) and chemical separation methods (chemical hydrolysis) provides useful experimental data for modelling soil carbon dynamics and sequestration in many soil types. The type of separation techniques to be employed, like every other analytical tool, depends on the cost implication, selectivity, time scale, level of purity required, end use of the isolates, amongst other criteria required by the analyst.
