Significance of GC/FT-IR and GC/MS in recognizing the sources of organic materials from sediments along the Suez Gulf Shoreline, Egypt

• Published in: Petroleum science and technology 2016-10, Vol.34 (20), p.1681-1690
• Main Authors: Elfadly, Abedel Aziz, Ahmed, Omayma E., El Nady, Mohamed M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aliphatic hydrocarbons; Aromatic compounds; Crude oil; Egypt; FT/IR; GC/MS; Gulf of Suez; Gulfs; Hydrocarbons; Infrared spectroscopy; organic matters; Sediments; Stations
• ISSN: 1091-6466; 1532-2459
• DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2016.1217240

The present work aims to using the application of GC, GC/MS, UV, and FT/IR spectroscopy organic matters extracted from sedimentary hydrocarbons from six coastal stations located in the Gulf of Suez and proposed to evaluate hydrocarbons in the sediments. The results the origins of hydrocarbons are multiple sources from terrestrial inputs, biogenic, and pyrolytic. Abundance of vascular plant n C 23 - n C 33 alkanes with a high odd-to-even predominance, pristane, and phytane beside nC 29 /nC 17 ratios and the presence of biogenic hopanes indicate the predominance of biogenic in combination with petrogenic hydrocarbons. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis indicates high concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as mono- and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are useful tool in organic geochemistry studies. UV analysis for organic matters incorporated in sediments reveals that oil pollutants have considerable amounts of aromatic compounds.