GEOQUÍMICA DO SOLIMÕES
GEOQUÍMICA DO SOLIMÕES
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.625122504112
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Palavras-chave: Coari, CG-EM, HPA, geoquímica
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Keywords: Coari, GG-MS, PAH, Geochamistry
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Abstract: The main objective of the present study was to identify and quantify the compounds (specifically the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions) present in sediment samples collected from Coari Lake in the Solimões River, and to correlate these results with their possible sources. A further aim was to correlate the geochronological distribution of the identified compounds with the environmental changes occurring in the region due to oil exploration, which commenced in the 1980s. A sedimentary core was retrieved from the entrance of Coari Lake, which was subsequently sliced and stored at 20oC. The samples underwent ultrasound extraction, and the resulting extracts were fractionated via liquid chromatography using a glass column packed with previously activated silica. This process yielded separate fractions of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and polar compounds. The first two fractions were profiled using Gas Chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and further analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The resulting spectra facilitated the identification and quantification of the compounds and allowed for the determination of geochemical parameters useful for inferring the environmental conditions of the studied area. Total aliphatic hydrocarbons concentrations ranged from 759.4 to 4454.1 ng/g while total n-alkanes ranged from 544.3 to 3133.9 ng/g, corresponding to the deep and surface sediment samples, respectively. Within the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, perylene was the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) identified in the highest quantity across all analyzed samples. Associating these values with other existing results allows us to infer that there is no petroleum contamination in the location, even following the start of oil activities in the 1980s.
- Celeste Yara dos Santos Siqueira
- Tharine Lima dos Santos