Early diagenesis of organic matter in the water column and sediments: Microbial degradation and resynthesis of lipids in Lake Haruna

Particulate matter, sediment trap, and surface sediment samples collected in freshwater Lake Haruna were studied to understand early diageesis of organic materials in the water column and in bottom sediments. The samples were analyzed for biomarkers, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, β- and ω-hydroxyacids, and α,ω-dicar☐ylic acids. Decreases in concentrations of autochthonous saturated C₁₂–C₁₉ fatty acids and polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids relative to TOC occured with the settling of organic matter ot the lake bottom, whereas the amounts of terrestial saturated C₂₀–C₃₀ acids remained almost constant. Conversely, the concentrations of monosaturated fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, and β- and ω-hydroxyacids, which are probably produced by microbial activity, increased. These results indicate that preferential degradation of algal lipids accompanies microbial resynthesis of lipids during settling, however, terrigenous lipids are relatively stable.     

Dicarboxylic acids generated by thermal alteration of kerogen and humic acids

Significant amounts (up to 2% of organic geopolymers) of low molecular weight (LMW) dicarboxylic acids (C₂–C₁₀) have been detected during thermal alteration (270°C, 2 h) of kerogens and humic acids isolated from young or ancient lithified sediments. Their distribution is characterized by predominance of oxalic acid followed by succinic, fumaric and methylsuccinic acids. These acids are probably released by the breakdown of macromolecular structures, which have incorporated biogenic organic compounds, including diacids, during early diagenesis in sediments. Because of their reactivity, LMW diacids may play the following geochemically important roles under natural conditions: (1) the diacids dissolve carbonates and clay minerals to increase porosity and permeability, which enhances migration of oils and gas generated from catagenesis of kerogen dispersed in shale, and (2) the diacids may form organo-metal complexes, which are important for mobilization, transport and accumulation of trace metals in sedimentary basins.     

Qualitative fatty acid and n-alkane stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin,Kenya

In order to improve understanding of the stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin, one of the important sites in the evolution of early man, this study evaluates the usefulness of organic biological marker compounds, n-alkanes and fatty acids, for correlation of isolated sedimentary strata.Eighty-five paleosol samples were collected from well-defined sedimentary horizons in two regions (Area 103 and Area 130) of the Koobi Fora area of Lake Turkana. Results indicate that most of the organic matter present was derived from terrestrial plant waxes. In sediments where extensive diagenesis has occurred, microbial input of organic matter may have been substantial. Algae were either not an important source of organic matter, or their marker compounds have been removed or altered by degradative processes.The fate of the original paleosol organic matter has been governed to some extent by weathering processes, especially in Area 130. Weathering decreased the amount of extractable lipids, particularly fatty acids and the low molecular weight alkanes (C₁₇C₂₀); produced or retained relatively large amounts of alkanes greater than C₂₁ within a unimodal distribution; and lowered CPI values. Consequently, stratigraphic correlation by unique alkane and fatty acid distributions has been confined to short distances (many meters).Both n-alkanes and fatty acids have been retained better by association with clay minerals than by sand matrices. The alkane distribution of sandstones differs from that of clay organics in having a narrower carbon chain length distribution and lower CPI values. In Area 103, where weathering was less severe, compositional variations with stratigraphic position indicate that lipid material has been retained within each of the facies examined.     

The lipid chemistry of an interfacial sediment from the Peru Continental Shelf: Fatty acids,alcohols, aliphatic ketones and hydrocarbons

A sample of the sediment-water column interface which lies on the continental shelf under the Peru upwelling regime, has been examined for fatty acids, fatty alcohols, ketones and hydrocarbons. Fatty acids were the most abundant compound class, ranging from C₁₂-C₂₄, with 16:0 as the major component (765.5 μg/g dry sediment). The alcohols were dominated by 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2-en-ol (phytol), with even-chain n-alcohols in the range C₁₄-C₂₀. The ketones consisted of C₃₇-C₃₉ di- and tri-unsaturated alken-2-ones and alken-3-ones. Both alkanes and alkenes were present in the hydrocarbon fraction; the alkanes ranging from C₁₃ — C₂₀ and comprising both straight chain and isoprenoid compounds; the alkenes consisting of isomeric pairs of C₂₅ branched trienes and tetraenes. The data indicate that the organic content has been contributed very largely from marine sources (probably mainly from phytoplankton and bacteria), showing little terrigenous influence. The presence of labile compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (with two to six double bonds), implies that the sediment has undergone very little diagenetic alteration, and the lipids are probably largely unchanged from the state in which they actually reached the sediment. They may therefore serve as a useful baseline in assessing diagenesis in older sediments, where diagenetic transformations are more advanced.     

Long-chain carboxylic acids in pyrolysates of Green River kerogen

Long-chain fatty acids (C₁₀-C₃₂), as well as C₁₄-C21 isoprenoid acids (except for C₁₈), have been identified in anhydrous and hydrous pyrolyses products of Green River kerogen (200–400°C, 2–1000 hr). These kerogen-released fatty acids are characterized by a strong even/odd predominance (CPI: 4.8-10.2) with a maximum at C₁₆ followed by lesser amounts of C₁₈ and C₂₂ acids. This distribution is different from that of unbound and bound geolipids extracted from Green River shale. The unbound fatty acids show a weak even/odd predominance (CPI: 1.64) with a maximum at C₁₄, and bound fatty acids display an even/odd predominance (CPI: 2.8) with maxima at C₁₈ and C₃₀. These results suggest that fatty acids were incorporated into kerogen during sedimentation and early diagenesis and were protected from microbial and chemical changes over geological periods of time. Total quantities of fatty acids produced during heating of the kerogen ranged from 0.71 to 3.2 mg/g kerogen. Highest concentrations were obtained when kerogen was heated with water for 100 hr at 300°C. Generally, their amounts did not decrease under hydrous conditions with increase in temperature or heating time, suggesting that significant decarboxylation did not occur under the pyrolysis conditions used, although hydrocarbons were extensively generated.     

Characteristics of normal fatty acids from sediments as a function of geologic-geochemical factors

Forty-nine samples from Mesozoic rocks of Northern Bulgaria and from recent marine muds of the Black Sea have been analyzed for fatty acids (FA), using extraction, treatment with ion exchange resin and gas chromatography. There is a higher concentration of normal (n) FA in the recent marine sediments, as well as in their bitumen extracts than in the rocks as a whole. There is twice as much n-FA in the rocks containing dispersed organic matter (DOM) formed mainly by benthonic organisms as compared to ancient sediments with planktonic DOM. The content of n-FA has decreased nine and five times, respectively in planktonic DOM in the sequence: limestones-marls-argillites and clayey siltstones, while the amount of organic carbon has risen four and two times. The n-FA are chiefly represented by C₁₆ and C₁₈ and in the recent sediments also by C₂₂ molecules. However when the level of maturity of DOM corresponds to the katagenetic degrees of MK₃ and MK₄, maximum is in n-FA with 19 and 20 carbon atoms. A gradual decrease in the amount of the n-FA with even-numbered carbon atoms was noted as maturity of the planktonic DOM increases from early diagenesis in recent marine sediments to the katagenetic degrees of MK₃ and MK₄ in ancient rocks. The ratios $\text{FA}\text{HC}$ and $\text{FA}\text{HC}\text{+ FA}$ have also decreased when the katagenetic maturity of DOM changes from PK₃ degree to MK₄ degree. These geochemical features may be used as an additional criterion in determining the principal phase of oil formation.     

Structural insights from boron tribromide ether cleavage into lignites and low maturity coals from the New Zealand Coal Band

Ether functionalities form an important cross-linking structure within the macromolecular organic matrix of lignites and coals. To obtain a deeper insight into the complex internal structure of such macromolecules and the maturation related changes of the ether compounds within the network structure, boron tribromide (BBr₃) ether cleavage was applied to a series of lignite and coal samples of different maturity (R₀ 0.27-0.80%) obtained from coal mines and natural outcrops from the North and South Island of New Zealand. Terminal ether-bound alcohols rapidly decrease during diagenesis and occur only in low amounts during the catagenetic stage. Comparison between ester- and ether-bound terminal alcohols indicates a parallel decreasing trend during the diagenetic stage, suggesting that the stability differences between both linkages are not large enough to be observed in maturation processes over geological time scales. Polyether compounds were detected with chain length up to five carbon atoms. After a small decrease during the diagenetic phase these compounds occur in relatively high concentrations, even in the main catagenetic stage. This suggests that these linkage structures represent important cross-linking substructures within the macromolecular matrix of lignites and coals being sterically protected within the macromolecular network during the maturation process. Additional cross-linking substructures were (poly)ether aromatics, esters and ketones.     

Geochemical Characterization Given by Rock-Eval Parameters and N-alkanes Distribution on Ypresian Organic Matter at Jebel Chaker, Tunisia

Sedimentary rock samples from Jebel Chaker in the eastern part of the Ypresian basin in central‐northern Tunisia were analyzed using various geochemical methods in order to decipher their organic signature. Examination of the distribution of total organic carbon (1.04–1.82%) suggests that the petroleum potential of Ypresian facies is not ignored in such area. The Ypresian episode permitted the accumulation of organic matter, which is typically marine plankton as indicated by the unimodal distribution of N‐alkane at nC₁₈ and by the predominance of the aliphatic hydrocarbons compared to the aromatics. It is concluded that the Ypresian organic matter is relatively immature, as indicated by the high content of polar compounds (3–67%) in bitumen. This conclusion is supported by the relative low T_max values (433–438°C), suggesting that the organic matter is located towards the end of diagenesis and beginning of catagenesis. These new results testify to the establishment of suboxic conditions that led to the accumulation and preservation of good quantities of organic matter in central‐northern Tunisia during the Ypresian. Due to their geochemical characteristics, the Chaker facies represent new potential source rocks in central‐northern Tunisia.     

Hydrothermal alteration of organic matter in sediments of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: Part 2. Escanaba Trough,Gorda Ridge

Samples from the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 169 in Escanaba Trough, Gorda Ridge, NE Pacific Ocean, were analyzed to study maturation by accelerated diagenesis and/or by catagenesis of the sedimentary organic matter to hydrothermal petroleum. At Site 1038 the hydrothermal petroleums have migrated after generation to shallower horizons. The n-alkane maturation was indicated by the strong even C number preference (i.e., CPI <1.0) as in the case of Middle Valley. All samples contained admixed organic matter of terrigenous and marine components as indicated by the distributions of the biomarkers. The biological precursors were catagenetically altered to their equivalent mature compounds. The presence of high molecular weight PAHs in some sediment sections at Site 1038 reflected the high temperature alteration and reworking of organic matter into mature hydrothermal petroleum. At Site 1037, the reference hole in the Escanaba Trough, the n-alkanes with a strong predominance of odd C number homologs reflected immature non-marine lipid components essentially throughout the hole. Maturation of organic matter was only observed below 450 mbsf with n-alkanes showing a CPI <1.0. The strong even C number predominance in those intervals was attributed to initial maturation by high heat flow during the early rifting process.     

Isoprenoid constituents in kerogens as a function of depositional environment and catagenesis

The ratio of the abundance of the C_19:1 isoprenoids 1-pristene and 2-pristene to the abundance of (nC_17:1 + nC_17:0) is significantly lower in pyrolysates of kerogens from highly anoxic depositional environments than in pyrolysates of kerogen if similar types and levels of catagenesis from more oxic organic facies. ¹³C-NMR analysis shows that the occurrence of lower relative concentrations of isoprenoid precursors also correlates with the occurrence of low proportions of oxygen-bonded carbon and high proportion of aliphatic carbon in kerogens. The ratio of 1-pristene to (n-C_17:1 + nC_17:0) can be correlated laterally and statigraphically within a basin. There is no clearly discernible dependence of relative isoprenoid concentration of kerogen type for oil-generative kerogens, although immature lignites have high 1-pristene/(nC_17:1 + nC_17:0) ratios.The 1-pristene/(nC_17:1 + nC_17:0) ratios in kerogens pyrolysates from the same organic facies decrease logarithmically with increasing catagenesis and can be correlated directly with measured vitrinite reflectance values. Geologic and experimental data imply that 1-pristene precursors are lost from kerogen more rapidly than the precursors of the C₁₈ isoprenoid.The lower relative isoprenoid concentrations observed in anoxically deposited kerogens appear to be the result of the enhanced preservation of normal alkyl groups and the enhanced formation of free isophrenoids early in the sequence of kerogen alteration. These results are significant to the use of isoprenoids as geochemical marker oils, bitumens, and kerogens and to the determination of the structure and diagenesis of isoprenoid precursors.     

Early diagenesis of fatty acids in lacustrine sediments—III. Changes in fatty acid composition in the sediments from a brackish water lake

A 3-m sediment core taken from Lake Suigetsu, in which a shift from fresh to brackish water occurred about three hundred years ago, has been examined for variation with depth of organic carbon and fatty acids. From the difference in total amounts of sulphur between sediments under fresh and brackish water environments, the surface sediments above approximately 35 cm depth were deduced to be accumulated under a brackish water environment. The total contents of organic carbon and fatty acids, and percentage composition of fatty acids gave discontinuous profiles above and below the 35–40 cm sediment layer. At a depth of 12.5 cm, the distribution in chain length of the fatty acids changed from a unimodal (the predominance of C₁₂-C₁₈ over C₂₀-C₃₄) to a bimodal pattern, which was mirrored by the composition diversity index (CDI).Although the fatty acids in the surface sediments (0–40 cm) from Lake Suigetsu seemed to suffer milder degradation through microbial activity than those in a core (0–150 cm) from Lake Suwa, a freshwater eutrophic lake, both lacustrine sediments showed similar trends in the alteration of fatty acid composition with depth.     

The main causes of the occurrence of carbonate cementation zones in the strata of oil- and gas-bearing basins

The results of studies of sedimentary strata carbonatization in oil- and gas-bearing basins are generalized. The sources of CO₂, H₂CO₃, and organic acids, which regulate the carbonate balance in stratum waters at the stages of diagenesis and catagenesis, as well as under the influence of superposed processes, including those with the participation of microorganisms, are considered. The scale of secondary carbonatization of deposits in the zone of water-oil contacts and in the interval of hydrothermal action is estimated.     

Lipid Distribution in Marine Sediments from the Northern South China Sea and Association with Gas Hydrate

The distributions of lipids in surface and subsurface sediments from the northern South China Sea were determined. The n-alkanes were in bimodal distribution that is characterized by a centre at n-C16 –n-C20 with maximum at C18(or C19) and n-C27 –n-C31 as well as at C29(or C31). The short-chain alkanes suffered from significant losses due to their slow deposition in the water column, and their presence with a slight even carbon predominance in shallow seafloor sediments was ascribed mainly to the direct input from the benthos. The long-chain alkanes with odd predominance indicate transportion of terrigenous organic matter. Immature hopanoid biomarkers reflect the intense microbial activity for bacteria–derived organic matter and the gradual increase of maturity with burial depth. Abundant n-fatty acid methyl esters(n-FAMEs) that are in distributions coincident with fatty acids were detected in all samples. We proposed that the observed FAMEs originated from the methyl esterification of fatty acids; methanol production by methanotrophs and methanogenic archaea related to the anaerobic oxidation of methane, and sulfate reduction provided an O–methyl donor for methylation of fatty acids. The CH4 released from hydrate dissociation at oxygen isotope stage II of Cores ZD3 and ZS5, which had been confirmed by the occurrence of negative δ13C excursion and spherical pyrite aggregates, could have accelerated the above process and thus maximized the relative content of FAMEs at ZD3-2(400–420 cm depth) and ZS5-2(241–291 cm depth).     

Early diagenesis of fatty acids in lacustrine sediments—I. Identification and distribution of fatty acids in recent sediment from a freshwater lake

Fatty acids have been isolated and quantitatively determined from a 1.5 m sediment core of Lake Suwa, a eutrophic lake in the central districts of Japan.The fatty acids identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were straight-chain saturated (C₁₂ to C₃₄), monounsaturated with even carbon number (C₁₆ to C₂₄) and branched-chain (iso, anteiso, 10-methyloctadecanoic) acids. The concentrations of the higher molecular weight (? C₂₀) saturated fatty acids remained nearly constant throughout the core, suggesting a high degree of preservation of those acids, whereas the monounsaturated and the lower molecular weight saturated fatty acids indicated a great decrease in concentration with depth to an approximately 20cm level. It is suggested that the microbial activity in sediments causes a significant reconstruction of the fatty acid distribution during early diagenesis.     

Pyrolysis of immature Torbanite and of the resistant biopolymer (PRB A) isolated from extant alga Botryococcus braunii. Mechanism of formation and structure of torbanite

Immature Torbanite and the resistant biopolymer (PRB A) isolated from extant B. braunii were previously compared using bulk spectroscopic methods. In the present work, analysis of 400°C pyrolysis products and pyrolysis residues provided further information on their structure and possible relationships. It appears that such polymers are based upon unbranched, saturated, cross-linked hydrocarbon chains up to C₃₁. In addition to these bridging structures, a substantial part of the alkyl chains is singly bound, as esters of unbranched, saturated or cis unsaturated, even fatty acids. These esters are sterically protected, against chemical degradations, by the network of the bioand geopolymer.Quantitative and qualitative observations derived from 400°C pyrolysis confirm that the chemical structure of PRB A and immature Torbanite are closely related. The pyrolysis residues show a similar evolution and numerous common features are noted, with respect to the nature and the distribution of the major constituents of the pyrolysates (hydrocarbons and fatty acids). Accordingly, Botryococcus provides what seems to be the first example of a close structural relationship between a biopolymer produced in large amounts by an extant alga and the geopolymer of an immature kerogen. The essential role of PRB A in Torbanite formation is ascertained. Moreover, it is found that the resistant biopolymer does not undergo important structural changes during the first stages of diagenesis. Thus, owing to steric protection, the esters of immature Torbanite show a distribution quite close to the one of PRB A esters, with exclusively even constituents and a large contribution of unsaturated acids.Recent observations pointed to the possible genesis of some algal kerogens principally by selective preservation of resistant macromolecules. Such a type of formation is clearly predominant in Torbanite, where the bulk of the fossil organic matter corresponds to a selectively preserved and weakly altered, resistant biopolymer, while incorporation of lipids into the kerogen structure during diagenesis seems to play a minor role.     

Composition and origin of lipid biomarkers in the surface sediments from the southern Challenger Deep,Mariana Trench

The surface sediments collected from the southern Mariana Trench at water depths between ca. 4900 m and 7068 m were studied using lipid biomarker analyses to reveal the origin and distribution of organic matters. For all samples, an unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was present in the hydrocarbon fractions, wherein resistant component tricyclic terpanes were detected but C₂₇–C₂₉ regular steranes and hopanes indicative of a higher molecular weight range of petroleum were almost absent. This biomarker distribution patterns suggested that the UCM and tricyclic terpanes may be introduced by contamination of diesel fuels or shipping activities and oil seepage elsewhere. The well-developed faults and strike-slip faults in the Mariana subduction zone may serve as passages for the petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition, the relative high contents of even n-alkanes and low Carbon Preference Indices indicated that the n-alkanes were mainly derived from bacteria or algae. For GDGTs, the predominance of GDGT-0 and crenarchaeol, together with low GDGT-0/Crenarchaeol ratios (ranging from 0.86 to 1.64), suggests that the GDGTs in samples from the southern Mariana Trench were mainly derived from planktic Thaumarchaeota. However, the high GDGT-0/crenarchaeol ratio (10.5) in sample BC07 suggests that the GDGTs probably were introduced by methanogens in a more anoxic environment. Furthermore, the n-alkanes C₁₉–C₂₂ and the n-fatty acids C_20:0–C_22:0 were depleted in ¹³C by 3‰ compared to n-alkanes C₁₆–C₁₈ and the n-fatty acids C_14:0–C_18:0, respectively, which was interpreted to result from the preferential reaction of fatty acid fragments with carbon “lighter” terminal carboxyl groups during carbon chain elongation from the precursors to products. The abundance of total alkanes, carboxylic acids, alcohols and total lipids were generally increased along the down-going seaward plate, suggesting the lateral organic matter inputs play an important role in organic matter accumulation in hadal trenches. The extremely high contents of biomarkers in sample BC11 were most likely related to trench topography and current dynamics, since the lower steepness caused by graben texture and proximity to the trench axis may result in higher sedimentation rate. This paper, for the first time, showed the biomarker patterns in surface sediments of the Mariana Trench and shed light on biogeochemistry of the hardly reached trench environment.     

Geological and laboratory evidence for early generation of large amounts of liquid hydrocarbons from suberinite and subereous components

Suberinite, and subereous components of amorphous nature, comprise largely unrecognized, proficient sources of liquid hydrocarbons. Due to difficulties in recognizing the presence of subereous components and suberinite in organic sediments, the contributions of these liptinitic components to the organic input of source rocks are easily underestimated. Severe chemical alterations of suberinite in the vitrinite reflectance range of R_o = 0.35–0.60% are demonstrated. Organic geochemical data, obtained from samples subjected to natural maturation, reveal that subereous components/suberinite undergoes early thermal degradation to generate large amounts of hydrocarbons below R_o = 0.60%. Data obtained from laboratory maturation of immature, suberinite-rich coals indicate that about 50% of the potential of suberinite for generating C₁₂₊ hydrocarbons has already been exhausted during natural maturation of the samples, prior to the onset of the traditionally defined “oil window”. The present data (a) contradict the assumption that suberinite is mainly sourced by selective preservation/enrichment of a stable, highly aliphatic biopolymer, i.e. “suberan” and (b) suggest that suberinite contains appreciable amounts of aliphatic and aromatic moieties which are released at low thermal stress.     

The advantages of using n-alkanes, triterpane, and steranes to determine the characterization of sedimentary organic matter

The current geochemical study of n-alkanes, steranes, and triterpanes in bitumen from the Late Maastrichtian–Paleocene El Haria organic-rich facies in West of Gafsa, southern Tunisia, was performed in order to characterize with accuracy their geochemical pattern. The type of organic matter as deduced from n-alkanes, steranes, and triterpanes distributions is type II/III mixed oil/gas prone organic matter. Isoprenoids and biomarkers maturity parameters (i.e., T _s/T _m, 22S/(22S?+?22R) of the C₃₁ αβ-hopanes ratios, 20S/(20R?+?20S) and ββ/(ββ?+?αα) of C₂₉ steranes), revel that the organic-rich facies were deposited during enhanced anoxic conditions in southern Tunisa. The organic matter is placed prior to the peak stage of the conventional oil window (end of diagenesis–beginning of catagenesis). All these result are suggested by total organic carbon analysis, bitumen extraction and liquid chromatography data. Thus, the n-alkanes, triterpane, and steranes study remains valuable and practical for geochemical characterization of sedimentary organic matter.     

Comparison of lipid character of sediments from the Great Lakes and the Northwestern Atlantic

Geolipid compositions of surficial sediments from Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and from three locations in the Northwestern Atlantic were determined to compare source inputs and alteration processes in different sedimentary environments. Fatty acids, sterols, fatty alcohols, and alkanes were examined in both unbound and bound extracts of these samples. Significant amounts of long chain fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons are present in the deep ocean station, yet this location contains a proportionally larger amount of short chain geolipids than do marine stations closer to shore. Larger proportions of long chain lipids present in the Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Gulf of Maine samples relative to the open ocean samples reflect larger inputs of land-derived lipids to sediments closer to terrigenous sources. Marine samples contain a more complex mixture of sterols than is found in lake sediments, suggesting that sterol inputs and alteration processes in the marine environment are more complex than in lacustrine settings. Ratios of 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 fatty acids decrease with increasing distance from land, which suggests that fatty acid degradation before and during deposition becomes more extensive in the open deeper ocean stations.     

氨基酸、脂肪酸对过渡带气、低熟原油形成的意义

对草海盆地泥炭、柴窝堡盆地第四系沉积物以及辽河东部凹陷、胜利东营凹陷、苏北金湖凹陷等第三系烃源岩中氨基酸、脂肪酸进行定性、定量分析，并开展热模拟实验。研究表明氨基酸主要赋存于沥青中，分解后可以生成烃类气体和Ｎ_２气，对过渡带气的形成可作出贡献。烃源岩干酪根和沥青中的脂肪酸含量不少，沥青中脂肪酸以一元酸为主，具偶碳优势，干酪根中脂肪酸以二元酸为主，不具偶碳优势。沥青和干酪根中脂肪酸脱羧基后产生烷烃，对过渡带气和低熟油都可作出贡献，沥青中脂肪酸是生成低熟油中具奇碳优势正烷烃的主要物源。