Response Mechanism of Sediment Organic Matter of Plateau Lakes in Cold and Arid Regions to Climate Change: a Case Study of Hulun Lake, China

Lake organic matter is one of the important forms of terrestrial carbon, and its sedimentary evolution is affected by many factors such as climate and source. However, few studies have been conducted on the bidirectional feedback mechanism between the sedimentary evolution of organic matter and climate change in cold and arid lakes. Historical variations of the sediment organic matter (SOM) and source construction of Hulun Lake, a typical lake in the cold and arid region of China, were studied by multiple methods. The interactions and feedback mechanisms between the sedimentary evolution, climate change, and source construction change were also discussed. Overall, the characteristic indexes of the SOM showed obvious and uniform characteristics of periodical changes. The indexes were relatively stable before 1920, and fluctuated from 1920 to 1979. Since the 1980s, the total organic carbon, carbon stable isotope, and fluorescence intensity of the protein-like component in the water extractable organic matter in the SOM has increased, while the carbon to nitrogen ratio decreased. The absolute dominant contribution of terrestrial source to the SOM had changed, and the relative average contribution rate of autochthonous source increased from 17.6% before 1920 to 36.9% after 2000. The increase of temperature, strong evaporation concentration effect, and the source construction change are the important driving factors of the sedimentary evolution of organic matter in Hulun Lake.

Natural and anthropogenic sources of extractable organic matter in sediments from the coastal zone of the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia

Surface sediment samples from the Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia were collected by Van Veen grab sampler to identify the characteristics, distribution, levels, and to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic sources of the total extractable organic matter (TEOM). The dried and sieved sediments were extracted with a dichloromethane/methanol mixture for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The TEOM included n-alkanes (353.9±283.8 ng.g−1), n-alkanols (283.2±296.1 ng.g−1), fatty acid methyl esters (245.2±353.7 ng.g−1), hopanes (100.7±158.2 ng.g−1), steranes (58.5±96.3 ng.g−1), triterpenoids (18.9±21.1 ng.g−1), steroids (15.3±17.0 ng.g−1), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (0.48±1.19 ng.g−1), as well as an unresolved complex mixture (UCM =1633±3151 ng.g−1) and petrochemicals (343.1±424.2 ng.g−1). The major sources of these TEOM compound groups were anthropogenic (petroleum and petrochemical) and natural (lipids from higher plants, marine material, and microbiota) inputs. Anthropogenic contaminants from petroleum products ranged from 46.6-85.6% of the TEOM, whereas petrochemicals varied from 10.7-40.6%. Biogenic influx from terrestrial vegetation ranged from 5.7-19.3%, and marine biotic sources varied from 11.1-37.5%. The continuous accumulation of anthropogenic contaminants will ultimately affect the critical habitats of this marine coastal region. This provides a basis for further studies to understand human and developmental activities on delivery, deposition processes, distribution, and biogeochemical alteration of organic matter in the coastal zones of the Arabian Gulf. Such studies are important for sustainable development and protection of these key regional habitats.

Postdiagenetic Bacterial Transformation of Nickel and Vanadyl Sedimentary Porphyrins of Organic-Rich Shale Rock (Fore-Sudetic Monocline, Poland)

Nickel and vanadyl porphyrins belong to the so-called fossil geo- or sedimentary porphyrins. They occur in different types of organic matter-rich sediments but mostly occur in crude oils and their source rocks, oil shales, coals, and oil sands. In this study, we aimed to understand the process of bacterial transformation of geoporphyrins occurring in the subsurface shale rock (Fore-Sudetic Monocline, SW Poland). We studied these transformations in rock samples directly obtained from the field; in rock samples treated with bacterial strain isolated from shale rock (strain LM27) in the laboratory; and using synthetic nickel and vanadyl porphyrins treated with LM27. Our results demonstrate the following: (i) cleavage and/or degradation of aliphatic and aromatic substituents of porphyrins; (ii) degradation of porphyrin (tetrapyrrole) ring; (iii) formation of organic compounds containing 1, 2, or 3 pyrrole rings; (iv) formation of nickel- or vanadium-containing organic compounds; and (v) mobilization of nickel and vanadium. Our results also showed that the described bacterial processes change the composition and content of geoporphyrins, composition of extractable organic matter, as well as nickel and vanadium content in shale rock.

Adsorption of Fulvic Acid and Water Extractable Soil Organic Matter on Kaolinite and Muscovite

The interaction of organic matter with mineral components of the solid phase of soils is the most important process that regulates the cycle and balance of carbon in the biosphere. The adsorption of humic acids on minerals is accompanied by their fractionation in size, composition, and amphiphilicity, thus decreasing their heterogeneity. Despite a strong interest in studying the regularities and mechanisms of the interaction between natural organic matter and layered aluminosilicates, it is necessary to take into account the natural diversity of soil organic matter, adsorption conditions, and mineral composition. This study was designed to investigate the adsorption regularities of fulvic acid (FA) and water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) isolated from horizon H of peaty-podzolic-gleyic soil on kaolinite and muscovite. Sorbates and sorbents were examined by the following methods: high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and potentiometric titration. The specific surface areas of the sorbents were determined by the sorption of N2 molecules. We found that hydrophobic components of FA and WEOM are mainly adsorbed on mineral surfaces. The adsorption of FA and WEOM on kaolinite and muscovite is followed by decreased hydrophobicity of organic matter and decreased heterogeneity of its amphiphilic properties in an equilibrium solution. At pH levels around 6, sorption of organic matter from FA solution containing 19% and 81% hydrophilic and hydrophobic components, respectively, onto kaolinite and muscovite occurs mainly due to hydrophobic components. Hydrophobic interactions on siloxane surfaces are the main mechanism to fix FA on both minerals. Kaolinite adsorbs slightly more organic carbon per unit area than muscovite. The adsorption of WEOM from a solution with 41% hydrophilic and 59% hydrophobic components results not only from hydrophobic and hydrophilic components but also from hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions and depends on pH. The most hydrophobic fractions of organic matter are adsorbed from the hydrophobic components on the surface of both minerals. Under conditions of the performed experiments at pH < 5, more WEOM is adsorbed on muscovite than on kaolinite.

Microwave Radiation Impact on Heavy Oil Upgrading from Carbonate Deposits in the Presence of Nano-Sized Magnetite

The present paper reports experiments on microwave heating of a carbonate oil-containing rock sample in the presence and absence of an iron-magnetite-based nanocatalyst. It has been shown that the used catalyst improves the processes of destructive hydrogenation of resins and asphaltenes compounds in the oil. The chemical reactions analysis demonstrated a decrease in asphaltenes content and in their molecular weight, which increases the filtration capacity of the oil fluid in the reservoir rock porous medium. Moreover, the content of non-extractable organic matter in the rock sample after experiments and after oil extraction was determined. It has been found that the absence of the catalyst causes the least increase in the content of non-extractable organic matter in the rock. This fact is related to the intensive processes of resinous-asphaltene compounds destruction especially at the level of peripheral groups which are the most condensed fraction, and hence leads to a decrease in their solubility in the organic medium and eases their adsorption on the mineral skeleton surface.

Quantitative and Qualitative Responses of Soil Water-Extractable Organic Matter to Carbon and Nitrogen Management Practices in Loess Soil

Soil-dissolved organic matter (DOM) drives the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in agroecosystems. Despite many studies on DOM dynamics, hardly any attention has been directed toward DOM quality, particularly DOM composition. The aim of this study was to elucidate how C and N management practices alter soil water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in a loess soil agroecosystem. Field experiments were conducted with a winter wheat monoculture. Three N fertilization rates (0, 120, and 240 kg ha−1 year−1) were applied for 17 years (2002–2019), combined with five C practices (zero, low, and high rates of sheep manure or wheat straw) for three years (2016–2019). The results reveal that soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) concentrations in the topsoil (0–20 cm) were increased by organic amendments considerably but were not affected by N fertilization. The fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra (EEM) of WEOM were resolved to two humic-like components (C1 and C2) and two soluble microbial byproduct-like components (C3 and C4). The proportions of C1 and C2 were increased, while the proportion of C3 was decreased by both C and N management practices. In conclusion, organic amendments increased both WEOM quality and its proportion of humic-like components, whereas N fertilization increased the proportion of humic-like components without variations of WEOM quality in the topsoil of loess soil.

Differences in the Composition, Source, and Stability of Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediment Organic Matter in Hulun Lake, China

Sediment (SOM) and suspended particulate (SPOM) organic matters are two important organic matters in water. Their occurrence, migration and transformation, and stability have important effects on the environmental behaviors of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants in a water environment. The content, composition, fluorescence characteristics, source, and stability of SOM and SPOM in Hulun Lake, a typical lake in cold and arid region of China, were compared by sequential extraction, three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, parallel factor technique, carbon–nitrogen ratio, and stable carbon isotope. SOM and SPOM in north and west were higher than those in east and south. The average content of SPOM (24.70 ± 4.63 g/kg) was slightly higher than that of SOM (23.04 ± 10.27 g/kg), but the difference was not significant. Humin was the dominant component in SOM and SPOM, accounting for 73.7% and 61.2%, respectively. Humus was the main fluorescence component of water-extractable organic matter in SOM and SPOM, accounting for 79.9% and 70.4%, respectively, of the total fluorescence intensity. SOM and SPOM were derived from terrestrial sources with relative contribution rate of about 70%. SPOM was more influenced by autochthonous sources and had significantly lower humification degree and stability than SOM. Effects of climate changes on migration, transformation, stability, and bioavailability of organic matters and endogenous pollutants closely related to organic matters in lakes of cold and arid regions should be paid attention in the future.

Bulk Chemical and Optical Spectroscopy Characterisations of Dissolved Organic Matter Extracted from the Tropical Coastal Sediment

The study of organic matter characterisation in coastal sediment is useful for understanding how dissolved organic matter (DOM) reactivity influences the fate of pollutants in the aquatic environment. However, there is little information available on the structural properties of DOM in coastal sediment. Chemical analysis, UV-Visible (UV-Vis) absorbance, fluorescence, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used in this work to characterise and compare the components of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) fractions from sediment from an estuary, a coastal area, and a port in Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysia. The elemental analysis (H/C and C/N ratios) of the three samples differed, which coincided with the findings of optical indices estimated from UV-Visible and fluorescent spectroscopy analyses. WEOM had an average output of 7.05 to 8.47 mg/L and was very dominating with heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC). In DOM-KS and DOM-K sediments, the allochthonous component with a high degree of condensation and the aromatic compound was the dominating composition. Meanwhile, the DOM-KT possessed a high autochthonous composition as well as carboxylic and phenolic content. Correlation analysis indicates that the aromaticity index SUVA254 and humification index (HIX) have positive correlations. The combined results of the chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicate that different coastal ecosystems, with the integration of various human and land activities, produce variations in DOM in the coastal area.

Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of the First Member of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Qijia Sag, Northern Songliao Basin, Northeast China: Implication for Its Shale Oil Enrichment

The Qijia Sag, a secondary tectonic unit in the northern Songliao Basin, developed plentiful shale oil resources in the first member of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation (K2qn1) as its main target layer. However, the systematic study on the geological and geochemical characteristics of K2qn1 in the sag has not been carried out. Taking the core samples from the SYY1 well covering the whole K2qn1 as the main study object and concerning some relevant intervals from the SYY1HF well and other earlier wells, petrologic features, organic geochemical characteristics, oil-bearing property, and reservoir characteristics of K2qn1 were analyzed in detail. The results show that the lithology of K2qn1 is mainly dark mudstone genera accounting for more than 90% of the formation thickness with few macrostructural fractures, indicating that K2qn1 developing in deep to semideep lacustrine facies of the Qijia Sag belongs to the typical matrix reservoirs for shale oil. According to lithology features and logging curves, K2qn1 can be divided into three submembers consisting of K2qn11, K2qn12, and K2qn13 from above to below. Compared to the K2qn11 submember, the K2qn12 and K2qn13 submembers obviously are more enriched in shale oil, which is supported by the following three aspects: (i) the average TOC (total organic carbon) values of K2qn11, K2qn12, and K2qn13 are 1.96%, 2.42%, and 2.72%, respectively. The organic matter types of K2qn12 and K2qn13 are mainly type I and type II1, while those of K2qn11 are mainly type II1 and type II2. K2qn1 is at the end of the oil window with a R o (vitrinite reflectance) average of 1.26%, and the maturity of K2qn12 and K2qn13 is slightly higher than that of K2qn11. (ii) The average OSI (oil saturation index) values of K2qn11, K2qn12, and K2qn13 are 110.54 mg/g, 171.74 mg/g, and 150.87 mg/g, respectively, which all reach the zone of oil crossover. The saturated hydrocarbon of EOM (extractable organic matter) in K2qn12 and K2qn13 is of higher content than that in K2qn11, while it is the opposite for the aromatic hydrocarbon, nonhydrocarbon, and asphaltene, indicating better oil mobility for K2qn12 and K2qn13. The average oil saturation values of K2qn11, K2qn12, and K2qn13 are 24.77%, 32.86%, and 35.54%, respectively. (iii) The intragranular dissolution pores and organic pores in K2qn12 and K2qn13 are more developed than those in K2qn11. The average effective porosity values of K2qn11, K2qn12, and K2qn13 interpreted from NMR logging are 4.88%, 6.26%, and 5.86%, respectively. Based on the above-mentioned analyses, the lower K2qn12 and the upper K2qn13 are determined as the best intervals of shale oil enrichment for K2qn1 vertically in the Qijia Sag. There is a certain horizontal heterogeneity of TOC, S 1 , and effective porosity in the drilling horizontal section of K2qn1 of the SYY1HF well. Therefore, the lower K2qn12 and the upper K2qn13 in the area with relatively weak horizontal reservoir heterogeneity of the study area should be selected as the preferential targets for shale oil exploration.