Macrocyclic Alkanes: Markers for the Freshwater Alga Botryococcus braunii

A molecular sieve using NaX (13X) has been used to separate macrocyclic alkanes, markers of the freshwater alga Botryococcus braunii (in the carbon number range C14 to C34) from the branched/cyclic hydrocarbon fractions of sediments and crude oils. The macrocyclic alkanes were included in the 13X sieve and were recovered by HF digestion. Analysis of a crude oil (Leatherjacket-1) and a sediment from the Gippsland Basin Flounder-1 well, Cretaceous reveal the presence of macrocyclic alkanes, suggesting an input to the organic matter from the freshwater alga B. braunii. This is the first report of macrocyclic alkanes in Australian crude oils and in sediments other than torbanites.

Personnel

M. Audino, K. Grice, R. Alexander, R. Kagi

Funding

Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry, APA