The use of biological markers in determination of origin and type of organic matter in the Tisza river sediments

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the origin and type of organic matter (OM) in recent sediments of the Tisza River, along a distance of 153 km through the territory of Serbia. For this purpose, group organic-geochemical parameters and biomarker compositions were used. All samples contained approximately same amount of OM, which was deposited under uniform, slightly reducing conditions. Based on the distribution of n-alkanes, the origin and type of OM could not be precisely estimated. However, the n-alkane patterns suggest the presence of immature singenetic organic matter of terrestrial origin. The distributions of terpanes and steranes and the values of the corresponding maturity parameters indicate that the Tisza River sediments, apart from immature singenetic organic matter, contain oil pollutants of anthropogenic origin. The identical compositions of these biomarkers in all samples confirmed that the recent sediments of the Tisza River, from Kanjiža Town to the confluence into the Danube River, contain the same type of oil pollutants. Based on the compositions of terpanes and steranes and the values of the biomarker parameters in Tisza sediments, it is supposed that the oil pollution generally could be related to heavy fuel oil from tankers, due to intense river transport and, to lower extent, to crude oils from the Elemir and Rusanda oil fields.

The use of biological markers in organic geochemical investigations of the origin and geological history of crude oils (I) and in the assessment of oil pollution of rivers and river sediments of Serbia (II)

“…1c and 1d), are strong indication of the presence of oil-type pollutants. [41][42][43][44][45] These polycyclic alkanes can be considered as a very sensitive "forensic tool". If oil-type pollutants are present in some samples and in very low concentrations, GC-MS analysis of steranes and terpanes will allow their identification.…”

Application оf alkane biological markers in the assessment of the origin of oil pollutants in the soil and recent river sediments (River Vrbas, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“…The use of these biological markers and δ 13 C PDB for "forensic" purposes, i.e., the distinction of native and anthropogenic organic substance, was demonstrated in previous papers. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Moreover, the study of biological markers in oil-type pollution has proved beneficial in terms of assessing its fate in various recent sediment formations, including groundwater and surface waters. By monitoring the change in the abundance and distribution of the alkane and aromatic oil biomarkers under natural conditions, as well as under laboratory-simulated conditions (n-alkanes, isoprenoids, steranes, terpanes, phenanthrenes and their methyl derivatives), the intensity and kinetics of oil biodegradation in the environment, [10][11][12][13] and the mechanism of its migration through "water wet" sediments were estimated.…”

The influence of pyrolysis type on shale oil generation and its composition (upper layer of Aleksinac oil shale, Serbia)

“…Detailed description of this analysis is given in the previous publications. 25,26 The solid residues obtained from both pyrolyses were dried and weighed. The yield of gas was calculated as: 100 % -(yield of shale oil + yield of solid residue).…”