Volatile organic compounds in Gulf of Mexico sediments

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5643675

McDonald, T J

Volatile organic compounds (VOC), concentrations and compositions were documented for estuarine, coastal, shelf, slope, and deep water sediments from the Gulf of Mexico. VOC were measured (detection limit >0.01 ppb) using a closed-loop stripping apparatus with gas chromatography (GC) and flame ionization, flame photometric, and mass spectrometric detectors. The five primary sources of Gulf of Mexico sediment VOC are: (1) planktonic and benthic fauna and flora; (2) terrestrial material from riverine and atmospheric deposition; (3) anthropogenic inputs: (4) upward migration of hydrocarbons; and (5) transport by bottom currents or slumping. Detected organo-sulfur compounds include alkylated sulfides, thiophene, alkylated thiophenes, and benzothiophenes. Benzothiophenes are petroleum related. Low molecular weight organo-sulfur compounds result from the biological oxidation of organic matter. A lack of organosulfur compounds in the reducing environment of the Orca Basin may result from a lack of free sulfides which are necessary for their production.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5643675
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
GULF OF MEXICO
WATER POLLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
BIODEGRADATION
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
SULFIDES
THIOPHENE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
MONITORING
POLLUTION SOURCES
VOLATILE MATTER
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECOMPOSITION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MATTER
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology