Implications of depositional environment on the iodine enrichment in the sedimentary system: evidences from the N-alkane in sediments

Abstract

To understand the implications of depositional environment on the enrichment of iodine in sediments, the N-alkane analysis has been conducted on the sediment from the North China Plain (NCP). The iodine contents of sediments ranged from 0.03 to 2.54 μg/g with the highest content occurring in the depth of 170-185 m. The results of sediment N-alkane (TAR, ΣT/ΣM and ACL) indicate that the marine source input is the predominant factor controlling the enrichment of iodine in the groundwater system. The Pr/Ph ratios (from 0.13 to 1.68) and the plot of Pr/n-C17 vs. Ph/n-C18 suggest that sediments deposited under suboxic to anoxic conditions. Under the oxdizing conditions, the iodine tends to be rich in the sediment, while the iodine may prefers to be released into groundwater under the reducing conditions.