The cutinite content
in a typical cutinitic liptobiolith from the
Luquan area of Yunnan Province, China, of middle Devonian, can be
up to 85%. The equal density gradient method was used to separate
the cutinite with the density gradient of cutinite being primarily
1.07–1.21 g/cm3. Then, the cutinite was sequentially
extracted with methanol, acetone, isometric N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/carbon
disulfide mixture (NMP/CS2), and cyclohexanone with ultrasonic
irradiation to afford soluble portions (E1–E4) and residues
(R1–R4). In total, about 48.60% of the organic matter in cutinite
became soluble. According to the analysis of soluble portions by gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry and 1H NMR, E1 was rich
in nitrogen-containing organic compounds and esters, amounting to
50.72 and 30.32%. Esters were found in E1, E2, and E4. The content
of esters in E2 was 43.54%. In addition, alkanes also were found in
E2 and E3, attaining 21.10 and 19.88%, respectively. The main products
of cyclohexanone extraction were ketones, about 39.33%. These experimental
results indicated that a great deal of oxygen-containing compounds,
alkanes, and aromatic species were released during the process of
cutinite sequential extraction. The small-molecule component was primarily
composed of C12–C18 linear alkane and
aromatics of 1–2 rings. Compared with cutin, these findings
are reasonably consistent with the results of the small-molecule composition
released during coalification.
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