<P> There are also reactions that occur with organic matter and other material in the soil to create compounds never seen before . Unfortunately, it is very difficult to characterize these because so little is known about natural organic matter in the first place . Research is currently being done to figure out more about these new compounds and how many of them are being formed . </P> <P> Aquatic organic matter can be further divided into two subsections: dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulate organic matter (POM). They are typically differentiated by that which can pass through a 0.45 micrometre filter (DOM), and that which cannot (POM). </P> <P> Organic matter plays an important role in drinking water and wastewater treatment and recycling, natural aquatic ecosystems, aquaculture, and environmental rehabilitation . It is therefore important to have reliable methods of detection and characterisation, for both short - and long - term monitoring . A variety of analytical detection methods for organic matter have existed for up to decades, to describe and characterise organic matter . These include, but are not limited to: total and dissolved organic carbon, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, UV - Visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy . Each of these methods has its own advantages and limitations . </P> <P> The same capability of natural organic matter that helped with water retention in soil creates problems for current water purification methods . In water, organic matter can still bind to metal ions and minerals . These bound molecules are not necessarily stopped by the purification process, but do not cause harm to any humans, animals, or plants . However, because of the high level of reactivity of organic matter, by - products that do not contain nutrients can be made . These by - products can induce biofouling, which essentially clogs water filtration systems in water purification facilities, as the by - products are larger than membrane pore sizes . This clogging problem can be treated by chlorine disinfection (chlorination), which can break down residual material that clogs systems . However, chlorination can form disinfection by - products . </P>

Where does the matter found in the body of an animal come from