Molecular characterization of polar organic compounds of the sediments of the Ribeira do Iguape Estuary and of the Lagoon of Iguape-Cananéia

• Grant number: 06/05675-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2007
• End date: May 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Chemical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Rolf Roland Weber
• Grantee: Rolf Roland Weber
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The molecular structures of the organic biogeopolimers present in marine and estuarine sediments continues to be a challenge in organic geochemistry. These molecules have higher molecular weights than hydrocarbons and lipids and being more polar, cannot be resolved by conventional CG-MS techniques. Nowadays HPLC-MS-electrospray are recommended for the analysis of these compounds. The inital extraction of the sediments should also be done by microwave assisted extraction instead of conventional Soxhlet techquine. Our hability to identify the real structures of the organics of sediments can also be limited by the extent of the diagenetic processes. In fact more than 80%of the organics present in sediments have not been properly identified ( Benner et al, 2004). This projec intends to use new techniques originally from biochemistry applied to an area where the sediments are rich in HMW organic compounds. (AU)