The influence of solid-phase organic carbon on the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants in landfill barriers, UK

The Oxford Clay from Bletchley, the Kimmeridge Clay from Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset, and Tertiary mud (Wittering Formation) from Whitecliff, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom were used as sorbent samples because of their distinctive organic material characteristics (Amorphous organic matter rich and/or phytoclast rich). Organic material was isolated for identification and analysis using a non-acid extraction method (heavy liquid) extraction and traditional methods involving HF digestion. These organic materials were then used to determine influences of extraction on hydrophobic organic contaminants, (toluene and naphthalene) sorption. Organic petrology classification was applied to identify the various types of isolated organic material. Amorphous organic matter from the Kimmeridge Clay displayed a higher sorption capacity (Sorption–desorption distribution coefficient (Kd), Kd = 6,481, 59, 670; for toluene and naphthalene, respectively) compared to literature values. Amorphous organic matter-rich sorbent extracts demonstrated a higher absorption capacity than the phytoclast-rich sorbents (e.g., Wittering Formation, Kd = 219, 10, 134; for toluene and naphthalene, respectively). Implications of results in landfill design/risk assessment and modelling are discussed.

Palynostratigraphic and palynofacies analysis of x and y wells, offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria

A detailed palynostratigraphic and palynofacies study was carried out on two shallow offshore wells, codenamed Well X and Well Y, from the Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. The study is aimed at establishing the age and palaeoenvironment of the sedimentary sequences penetrated by the wells. Standard palynological/palynofacies laboratory procedures were used to free the palynomorphs and palynomacerals from the embedding matrices.Prepared palynological slides were studied using the Leitz Ortholux II transmitted light microscope. The palynofloral assemblages recorded from the two well sequences include well-preserved palynomorphs such as Zonocostites ramonae, Monoporites annulatus, Retitricolporites irregularis, Cyperaceaepollis sp., Echitricolporites spinosus and Nymphaeapollis clarus among others. The recognition of diagnostic pollen of Cyperaceaepollis sp. and Nymphaeapollis clarus as well as the associated palynomorph assemblage aided the delineation of the well sequences into the P830, P840-P850 and P860 subzones of the P800 palynological zone in the late Miocene. The relative abundance of particulate organic matter (Amorphous Organic Matter (AOM), Phytoclasts and Palynomorphs) revealed the delineation of three palynofacies assemblages, PF-A, PF-B and PF-C, suggesting three distinct paleoenvironments of deposition. These paleoenvironments range from distal shelf through marginal to proximal with varying conditions from oxic, suboxic to anoxic, thus suggesting marginal marine to coastal deltaic environments of deposition for the sedimentary sequences penetrated by the two wells. Keywords: Late Miocene, Niger Delta, Paleoenvironment, Palynostratigraphy, Palynofacies.

Structure Evolution of Organic Compounds in Shale Plays by Spectroscopy (1H & 13C−NMR, XPS, and FTIR) Analysis

Amorphous organic matter in geomaterials also known as kerogen undergoes significant alteration in chemical structure during thermal maturation which is characterized using a combination of solid−state ¹H & ¹³C−NMR, X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques.

Structure Evolution of Organic Compounds in Shale Plays by Spectroscopy (1H & 13C−NMR, XPS, and FTIR) Analysis

Amorphous organic matter in geomaterials also known as kerogen undergoes significant alteration in chemical structure during thermal maturation which is characterized using a combination of solid−state ¹H & ¹³C−NMR, X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques.

Structure Evolution of Organic Compounds in Shale Plays by Spectroscopy (1H & 13C−NMR, XPS, and FTIR) Analysis

Amorphous organic matter in geomaterials also known as kerogen undergoes significant alteration in chemical structure during thermal maturation which is characterized using a combination of solid−state ¹H & ¹³C−NMR, X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques.

Biostratigraphy of the Hareelv Formation (Upper Jurassic) in the Blokelv-1 core, Jameson Land, central East Greenland

The Hareelv Formation in the Blokelv-1 core is biostratigraphically subdivided by means of ammonite and dinoflagellate cyst stratigraphy. The succession ranges from the Oxfordian C. densiplicatum Chronozone to the Volgian P. elegans Chronozone. The mudstones of the Blokelv-1 core are characterised by large amounts of amorphous organic matter. This hampers the preparation and identification of dinoflagellate cysts, which are also commonly degraded and corroded. Ammonites, on the other hand, are common and well-preserved in the core, contrasting with that observed in the equivalent facies and stratigraphic interval at outcrop. Integration of the ammonite and dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphical data yields a robust chronostratigraphic subdivision of the middle Oxfordian – lowermost Volgian cored section.

Past environments of Sardinian archaeological sites (Italy, West Mediterranean Sea), based on palynofacies characterization

A study method based on characterization of palynofacies (organic matter, palynomorphs) preserved in sediments was applied to obtain information about past environments of Sardinian sites. Organic matter (OM) was classified in ten categories according to its biological source, ecological characteristics, morphology and preservation state. These categories included woody and non-woody particles (cuticles, amorphous organic matter), phytoclasts, spores and pollen grains, gelified particles, and altered phytoclasts that ranged from transparent to opaque fragments. Cluster analysis classified the samples into associations. Each cluster includes stations with a similar spatial distribution pattern. The characterization of the different types of OM was coupled with palyno-logical analyses to produce suggested hypotheses about past vegetation, human activity and land use in Sardinia.