Abiotic degradation of free phytol in the water column: A new pathway for the production of acyclic isoprenoids in the marine environment

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(90)90155-E· OSTI ID:6243869

Rontani, J F; Combe, I; Giral, P J.P. ^[1]

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1. Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseille (France)

The acyclic isoprenoid aldehydes - E and Z 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-enal (phytenals) and 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpendadecanal (pristanal), themselves previously shown to be products of the photosensitized oxidation of phytol in seawater - were stirred in the dark in synthetic seawater. Examination of the products showed that the phytenals were partially transformed to the corresponding unsaturated acids and the ketone 6,10,14-trimethylpendadecan-2-one, whereas pristanal was converted solely to the corresponding acid. A new pathway for abiotic production of acyclic isoprenoids in the water column is postulated. This theory is supported by the identification of several of the compounds in particulate matter and sediments from the Gulf of Lyon (Mediterranean Sea).

• OSTI ID: 6243869
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Vol. 54:5; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CHLOROPHYLL
BIODEGRADATION
SEDIMENTS
ALDEHYDES
GEOCHEMISTRY
ISOPRENE
ACTIVATION ENERGY
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
KETONES
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
OXIDATION
PARTICULATES
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
SEAWATER
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
DIENES
ENERGY
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
POLYENES
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
WATER
580000* - Geosciences