THERMAL ALTERATION OF ORGANIC MATTER IN RECENT MARINE SEDIMENTS

摘要

Sediment from Tanner Basin, the outer continental shelf off southern California, was analyzed for photo-synthetic pigments and their derivatives, namely carotenes and chlorins. Samples of the sediment were also exposed to raised temperatures (65° , 100° , 150°C) for various periods of time (1 week, 1 month, 2 months). Analysis of the heat-treated sediment revealed the pre¬sence of a-ionene and 2,6-dimethylnapthalene, thermal-deyradation products ofβ-carotene. Chlorins were con¬verted to nickel porphyrins of both DPEP and etio series. Possible mechanisms of these transformations are presented.