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| Room |
Organic Geochemistry Extraction Laboratory
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| Location |
Rm. M3263,
3rd floor,
Bldg. 15 (McKelvey Bldg.)
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| Contact |
Robert J. Rosenbauer
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| Description |
Solvent extraction and dissolution of hydrocarbons from sediments, tars, or oil mixtures for the determination of biological markers or biomarkers.
These are complex organic compounds, or groups of compounds, composed mostly of carbon and hydrogen and occasionally, some other elements.
They are actually "molecular fossils" derived from formerly living organisms.
These compounds, commonly found in rocks and sediments, persist relatively unchanged in structure from their parent organic molecules, for a long time in the environment. Due to their refractory nature and complex structure, biomarkers are useful tools for the geochemist to determine the origin and to differentiate sources of geologic materials.
For example, biomarkers can be used to determine the extent of marine versus terrigenous input into sediments or the nature and amount of other anthropogenic contamination in the environment.
Biomarkers can also be used to correlate sources of hydrocarbons and thus differentiate between natural and pollutant hydrocarbon residues that are often found along coastlines.
Capability includes also the extraction and quantitation of selective pesticides and herbicides from sediments to determine environmental contaminants.
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Specialized
Equipment |
- CEM Microwave Extraction System (MES), designed for the accelerated extraction of hydrocarbons from sediments with a variety of solvents.
- High capacity furnace for sterilizing laboratory glassware, used by a variety of research groups in the Geologic and Water Resources Divisions
- High capacity and high purity water still.
- High capacity convection oven.
- High capacity refrigerator for sample storage.
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