Environmental Chemistry - An Interdisciplinary Subject. Natural and Pollutant Organic Compounds in Contemporary Aquatic Environments

摘要: ABSTRACT Contemporary aquatic environments generate and receive organic compounds which are of both natural pollutant origin. The waters sediments contain a wide range compounds, free bound as insoluble debris. For example, extractable lipids present in amounts varying from ppm to few per cent. various component classes - hydrocarbons, fatty acids, alcohols, etc. can each show distributions characteristic the different types environment. Of particular interest occur ubiquitously but vary their structural type (straight-chain, branched-chain, acyclic isoprenoid, cyclic polycyclic aromatic etc.), degree unsaturation (alkanes, alkenes, aromatics) carbon numbers (typically 10-45). hydrocarbon ‘fingerprints’ represented by relative abundances individual members be correlated with known inputs associated diagenetic effects. Specific parameters used recognise anthropogenic distinguish between variety sources. As an analysis hydrocarbons extracted particulate fractions Severn Estuary tidal mud shows that ‘sand’, ‘silt’ ‘clay’ fractions, separated deflocculation sedimentation, possess contents alkane polynuclear (PAH). input higher plant alkanes comprises greater proportion sand-sized particles whereas unresolved complex mixture (UCM) branched/cyclic alkanes, steranes triterpanes, all derive oil pollution, more abundant clay-sized fraction. In contrast, PAH, mainly derived combustion fossil fuels, greatest ‘sand’ These results differing origin concentrated size mud.