Distribution and origin of n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, and n-alkanes in environmental samples.

Date

1981

Authors

Shigaraki, Y.
Ishiwatari, R.

Journal Title

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Abstract

For 13 samples of lake (Lake Haruna), river (Tama River, Houston Ship Channel) and marine (Tokyo Bay, Galveston Bay, Gulf of Mexico) sediments, soils and activated sludges, n-alkanoic acids (C12-C36), n-alkanols (C12-C36) and n-alkanes (C15-C37) were determined. To estimate the origins of these compounds in the environmental samples, the distribution patterns of the compounds were compared with those for the presumed source organisms. The data for these compounds in organisms (algae, bacteria, zooplankton, fish, insects, fungi and higher plants) from the literature, were divided into 3 types in terms of their AB: 2 > LH > 1/2; B: 1/2 .gtoreq. L/H)). The organisms were classified into 8 groups by the combination of the L/H ratio types for n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols and n-alkanes (I: A (for n-alkanoic acids), A (for n-alkanols), A (for n-alkanes); II: A, A, AB; III: A, A, B; IV: A, AB, B; V: A, B, B; VI: AB, B, B; VII: B, B, B; O: others). The L/H ratio of these compounds in the organisms mostly follow the order: n-alkanoic acids > n-alkanols> n-alkanes. These compounds in the lake and marine sediments and soils are apparently mostly of terrestrial (higher plants) origin; the compounds in the Tama River sediments seem to originate from algae and/or bacteria. The compounds in the sample from the Houston Ship Channel are strongly influenced by petroleum pollution.

Description

p. 72-81.

Keywords

sediment samples, chemical compounds, sediment analysis, oil pollution

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