Geochemical study of long-chain n-aldehydes in Washington coastal sediments

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(87)90338-3· OSTI ID:7160190

Prahl, F G; Pinto, L A

A series of n-aldehydes, C/sub 20/ to C/sub 32/, with strong even-to-odd carbon preference was identified in the mixture of solvent extractable lipids isolated from various Washington coastal sediments. A limited survey of the lipid composition of surface waxes of foliage and cuticular waxes of pollen from several major plant species indigenous to the Pacific Northwest revealed that similar series of n-aldehydes are intrinsic to regional vegetation. Debris from such plants, discharged at the mouth of the Columbia River, represents a preformed source of the n-aldehyde series accumulating in sediments from Washington coastal region. Although the evidence suggest n-aldehydes are largely introduced erosionally to this region as a chemical component of land-derived debris and are not formed in situ in the coastal sediments, further study is warranted to establish the postdepositional stability of this series of compounds relative to other lipids of higher plant wax origin. Despite but few literature reports of the occurrence of these geochemicals, long-chain n-aldehydes are very likely common in many sediments from environments that receive an input of detrital organic matter from higher plants.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7160190
• Journal Information: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States) Vol. 51:6; ISSN GCACA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
58 GEOSCIENCES
580400* -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOCHEMISTRY
INTERFACES
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIPIDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
SEDIMENT-WATER INTERFACES
SEDIMENTS
USA
WASHINGTON