Biological sources for phenylalkane hydrocarbons
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Univ. of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD (United States)
Linear alkylbenzenes (phenylalkanes) represent an important class of molecular compounds used widely in today`s society as building blocks for detergent manufacture, indeed, the almost universal widespread use and acceptance of detergents has been reflected by the fact that detergent chemical components can be found in and around almost every location around the globe where human settlements exist. This being the case, detergent chemical components represent a well recognized indicator of pollution in the lakes, rivers, and coastal water systems of the world. The identification of phenylalkane hydrocarbons in ancient sedimentary organic matter has been the subject of much controversy and concern, owing to the ubiquitous presence of phenylalkanes in today`s society. The finding of these components in the trace analytical analyses of petroleum sediments and crude oils has always implied {open_quotes}detergent contamination{close_quotes}. New evidence, however, suggests that the finding of phenylalkanes in ancient geological materials may actually represent an input from ancient algae and/or bacteria which contributed to the organic biomass from which the sediment or crude oil was derived. Moreover, the finding also of phenylalkane hydrocarbons in the lipids extracts of thermophilic bacteria still living today has revealed the first evidence of a natural system producing these compounds.
- OSTI ID:
- 538994
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960807--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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