CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS OBTAINED BY ALKALINE-HYDROLYSIS OF MONTEREY KEROGEN

In order to obtain more information on the structural entities bonded to the macromolecular structure of Monterey kerogen, the solvent-extractable acidic products obtained by mild alkaline hydrolysis were investigated by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. On the basis of the results obtained, the previously proposed structural feature of Monterey kerogen is expanded to include saturated normal monocarboxylic acids (C-8-C36), saturated normal alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acids (C-7-C29), isoprenoid acids (C-14-C-17, C19-C21), iso and anteiso acids (C-11-C18), unsaturated acids (C-16:1, C18:1), aromatic acids, hopanoid acids, and 3-carboxycholestane, as well as a complex mixture of alkylated thiophene carboxylic acids (C6-C-11). The significance of the lipid composition of the kerogen is discussed in terms of lipid diagenesis and biomarker information.