Flash pyrolysis of kerogens from algal rich oil shales from the Eocene Huadian Formation, NE China

Zhang, Zhirong; Volkman, John K.; Greenwood, Paul F.; Hu, Wenxuan; Qin, Jianzhong; Borjigin, Tenger; Zhai, Changbo; Liu, Weixin

doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2014.08.004

Cited by 31 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Type 1 algal kerogens in particular, characterised by high H/C and low O/C ratios, are suggested to be derived from algaenan preservation (Gelin et al, 1997). Botryococcus braunii has been identified as a major contributor to this type of kerogen through the preservation of its algaenan, as shown from pyrolysis-gas chromatographymass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and identification of acyclic isoprenoid biomarkers (Volkman, 2014;Zhang et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the presence of an aliphatic biopolymer in cyanobacteria: Implications for kerogen formation

Biller

Ross

Skill

2015

Organic Geochemistry

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a b s t r a c tAlgaenan has been suggested to be one of the main precursors of certain kerogens. It is a non-hydrolysable and insoluble biomolecule of high molecular weight. It has been found in a limited number of microalgae species. There is considerable uncertainty about its formation and preservation, as well as its role in kerogen formation and the implications for the global C cycle. We tested whether the cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii can synthesise a biomacromolecule similar to algaenan with potential to contribute to kerogen via selective preservation. Two freshwater green microalgae, Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea and Scenedesmus obliquus, as well as C. fritschii, were subjected to harsh solvent extraction and hydrolysis steps to obtain an insoluble and non-hydrolysable macromolecule. The residues from all three species were analysed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The analysis revealed that C. fritschii indeed contains a resistant biomacromolecule exhibiting the characteristic aliphatic structure of algaenan, similar to the algaenan residues from the two microalgae. Due to the robust nature of Chlorogloeopsis compared with eukaryotes, it can prevail in extreme environmental conditions such as freezing, thawing, desiccation and overheating -conditions prevalent on the primeval earth. The presence of a resistant aliphatic biopolymer in Chlorogloeopsis suggests that cyanobacteria could have contributed to kerogen via selective preservation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the presence of an aliphatic biopolymer in cyanobacteria: Implications for kerogen formation

Biller

Ross

Skill

2015

Organic Geochemistry

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“…Much research suggests that BSs are indicative of terrestrial input, especially of angiosperm origin (Peters et al 2005;Nytoft et al 2009). However, in the case of the Eocene Shahejie Formation, the BS biomarkers are specifically indicative of Botryococcus braunii origin, which has been verified by previous research, evidenced by the similarity of BS distribution characteristics of source rocks and Botryococcus braunii thermal-degradation products (Xia and Luo 1994;Wang et al 1996;Salmon et al 2009;Zhang et al 2014). In addition, it is ubiquitous for Botryococcus braunii to serve as an important precursor for hydrocarbon generation in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic strata in China; including the Eocene of the Bohai Bay Basin, the Eocene of the Qaidam Basin, the Cretaceous of the Songliao Basin, and the Jurassic of the Tarim, Ordos, and Junggar basins (Summons et al 2002;He et al 2004;Luo and Shen 2005;Hofmann et al 2005;Zhang et al 2007;Ji et al 2008Ji et al , 2009Ji et al , 2010Volkman et al 2015).…”

Section: Biogenic Interpretation Significance Of the Cm-bound Fractionmentioning

confidence: 63%

A geochemical investigation of the free and carbonate-bound organic matter in the clay-sized fraction of argillaceous source rocks and its significance for biogenic interpretation

et al. 2018

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The molecular composition and biomarker distribution of various occurrences of organic matter in argillaceous source rocks developed in fresh and saline lacustrine environments were revealed by successive treatments of solvent extraction followed by acid hydrolysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The free fraction obtained by solvent extraction provided abundant geochemical information concerning the sedimentary environment, thermal maturity and biogenic origin, and obvious differences existed between fresh and saline lacustrine source rock samples. Our research results indicate that the carbonate-mineral-bound (CM-bound) fraction released by successive acid hydrolysis could also serve as a significant biogenic indicator, as the bicyclic sesquiterpenoids, indicative of Botryococcus braunii origin, were specifically detected in quite high abundance in the acid-soluble fraction. In addition, the light end hydrocarbons were much better preserved in the acid-soluble fraction, and elemental sulfur was only detected in the CM-bound fraction, suggesting a relatively confined environment for the CM-bound fraction, which thus could preserve additional geochemical information compared to that of the free fraction. The CM-bound fraction also exhibited discernable differences between fresh and saline lacustrine samples. Therefore, it can be concluded that comprehensive analysis of free and CM-bound fractions in the argillaceous source rocks can provide a more authentic and objective interpretation of geologic conditions.

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“…However, lycopadiene was reported in a few studies including freshwater lake sediments from the Holocene 1 and an oil shale from the Pliocene 47 . In addition, a monoaromatic lycopane derivative was reported from the Messel oil shale 9 , and kerogen fractions of samples from oil shale layer 4 in the Eocene Huadian Formation, NE China 48 . Adam et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors controlling the distributions of Botryococcus braunii (A, B and L) biomarkers in a subtropical freshwater wetland

Simoneit

Jaffé

2018

Sci Rep

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Here we report the molecular biomarker co-occurrence of three different races of Botryococcus braunii (B. braunii) in the freshwater wetland ecosystem of the Florida Everglades, USA. Thespecific biomarkers include C32–C34 botryococcenes for race B, C27–C32 n-alkadienes and n-alkatrienes for race A, and lycopadiene for race L. The n-alkadienes and n-alkatrienes were present up to 3.1 and 69.5 µg/g dry weight (dw), while lycopadiene was detected in lower amounts up to 3.0 and 1.5 µg/g dw in periphyton and floc samples, respectively. Nutrient concentrations (P and N) did not significantly correlate with the abundances of these compounds. In contrast, n-alkadienes and n-alkatrienes were present in wider diversity and higher abundance in the floc from slough (deeper water and longer hydroperiod) than ridge (shallower water and shorter hydroperiod) locations. n-Alkadienes, n-alkatrienes, and lycopadiene, showed lower δ13C values from −40.0 to −35.5‰, suggesting that the source organisms B. braunii at least partially utilize recycled CO2 (13C depleted) produced from OM respiration rather than atmospheric CO2 (13C enriched) as the major carbon sources.

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Flash pyrolysis of kerogens from algal rich oil shales from the Eocene Huadian Formation, NE China

Cited by 31 publications

References 50 publications

Investigation of the presence of an aliphatic biopolymer in cyanobacteria: Implications for kerogen formation

Investigation of the presence of an aliphatic biopolymer in cyanobacteria: Implications for kerogen formation

A geochemical investigation of the free and carbonate-bound organic matter in the clay-sized fraction of argillaceous source rocks and its significance for biogenic interpretation

Environmental factors controlling the distributions of Botryococcus braunii (A, B and L) biomarkers in a subtropical freshwater wetland

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