Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Occurrence of phenylalkanes in some Australian Crude Oils and Sediments.

Journal Article · · Org. Geochem.

Evidence is presented to support the proposition that phenylalkanes in some Australian crude oils and sediments are of geochemical origin as opposed to resulting from contamination from byproducts of the petrochemical manufacture of surfactants. Evidence presented shows that: (1) an unexposed sediment core was found to contain phenylalkanes; (2) the molecular weight range of phenylalkanes in sediments and crude oils is usually wider than that found in surfactants, extending in some cases beyond C35; (3) abundant phenylalkanes were generated by pyrolysis of extracted sediments, and (4) phenylalkanes were found in the neutral lipid extract of extant Thermoplasma bacteria. Also, the presence of phenylalkanes and possibly phenylalkenes in the pyrolyzates of torbanites suggests that these compounds may also be formed from fossil algae.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
937834
Report Number(s):
ANL/CHM/JA-21540
Journal Information:
Org. Geochem., Journal Name: Org. Geochem. Journal Issue: 1 ; Jan. 1996 Vol. 24; ISSN 0146-6380; ISSN ORGEDE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

Similar Records

Biological sources for phenylalkane hydrocarbons
Conference · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · OSTI ID:273644

Biological sources for phenylalkane hydrocarbons
Conference · Mon Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1996 · OSTI ID:538994

Bacterial sources for phenylalkane hydrocarbons
Conference · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · OSTI ID:370459