Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Characterisation of Sedimentary Organic Matter in Carbonates with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Advances in Stromatolite Geobiology

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences ((LNEARTH,volume 131))

Abstract

The characterisation of the insoluble macromolecular fraction of sedimentary organic matter preserved in carbonate sediments (also known as kerogen; Durand B, Kerogen: Insoluble Organic Matter from Sedimentary Rocks. Editions Technip, Paris, 1980) allowed for the identification of fossil organisms that were not otherwise preserved.

To perform rapid analyses on organic matter, capable of determining not only its crude constituents but also its geochemical composition and thermal maturity, we tested a new approach with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on the Calcare di Base (CdB). These carbonate sediments have previously been characterised through molecular fossils and other organic markers (Guido et al., Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 255:265–283, 2007); the authors demonstrated that the CdB was deposited via heterotrophic bacterial metabolism.

Considering the very low organic-matter content, it was necessary to concentrate the organic compounds for our analyses. The infrared spectra showed stretching aliphatic bands (νCHali) and deformation bands indicative of methyl (δCH3) and methyl-methylene [δ(CH2+CH3)] groups. The spectra also displayed the band assigned to carbonyl and/or carboxyl groups (νC=O). In addition, the band assigned to the skeletal vibration of more than four methylene groups [γ(CH2)4] was observed, and the νC–O vibration was also recorded.

The ratio of carbonyl to aliphatic groups (νC=O/νCHali) permitted us to distinguish the marine vs. continental inputs, whereas the ratios for chain length (δCH2/δCH3) and the degree of branching [ν(CH2)4/νCHali] allowed for the determination of the thermal maturity of organic matter.

The data confirmed the organic geochemical analyses performed by Guido et al. (Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 255:265–283, 2007), demonstrating that the FTIR is a reliable approach for the recognition of the origin and thermal maturity of the organic matter preserved in carbonate sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anderson MS, Andringa JM, Carlson RW, Conrad P, Hartford W, Shafer M, Soto A, Tsapin AI (2005) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for Mars science. Review of Scientific Instruments 76:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baruah MK (1986) Assignment of the i.r. absorption band at 1050 cm−1 in lignite humic acid. Fuel 65:1756–1759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borrego AG, Blanco GC, Prado JG, Díaz C, Guillén MD (1995) Study of the bitumenes and pirolizates from some Spanish oil shale by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. In: Grimalt JO, Dorronsoro C, Editors, Organic Geochemistry: Developments and Applications to Energy, Climate, Environmental and Human History, A.I.G.O.A., San Sebastian, 798–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown JK (1955) The infrared spectra of coals. Journal of the Chemical Society: 744–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Černý J (1955) Aliphatic C–H bond responses in the 900–700cm−1 region of the FTIR spectra of coal tars. Fuel Science and Technology International 13:807–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Ping L, Jinchao L (1998) Using kerogen FTIR parameters for determination of organic facies. Chinese Science Bulletin 43:681–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christy AA, Hopland AL, Barth T, Kvalheim OM (1989) Quantitative determination of thermal maturity in sedimentary organic matter by diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy of asphaltenes. Organic Geochemistry 14:77–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller MP, Hamadeh IM, Griffiths PR, Lowenhaupt DE (1982) Diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy of powdered coals. Fuel 61:529–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganz H, Kalkreuth W (1987) Application of infrared spectroscopy to the classification of kerogen-types and the evolution of source rock and oil shale potentials. Fuel 66:708–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guido A, Jacob J, Gautret P, Laggoun-Défarge F, Mastandrea A, Russo F (2007) Molecular fossils and other organic markers as palaeoenvironmental indicators of the Messinian CdB formation: normal versus stressed marine deposition (Rossano Basin, Northern Calabria, Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 255:265–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias MJ, Jiménez A, Laggoun-Défarge F, Suárez-Ruiz I (1995) FTIR study of pure vitrains and associated coals. Energy & Fuels 9:458–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauppinen JK, Moffatt DJ, Mantsch HH, Cameron DG (1981a) Fourier transforms in the computation of selfdeconvoluted and first-order derivative spectra of overlapped band contours. Analytical Chemistry 53:1454–1457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauppinen, JK, Moffatt DJ, Mantsch HH, Cameron DG (1981b) Fourier self-deconvolution: a method for resolving intrinsically overlapped bands. Applied Spectroscopy 35:271–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kister J, Guiliano M, Largeau C, Derenne S, Casadevall E (1990) Characterization of chemical structure, degree of maturation and oil potential of Torbanites (type I kerogens) by quantitative FT-i.r. spectroscopy. Fuel 69:1356–1361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuehn DW, Snyder RW, Davis A, Painter PC (1982) Characterization of vitrinite concentrates. 1. Fourier Transform infrared studies. Fuel 61:682–694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landais P, Rochdi A (1990) Reliability of semiquantitative data extracted from transmission microscopy-Fourier transform infrared spectra of coal. Energy & Fuels 4:290–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin R, Ritz GP (1993a) Reflectance FT-IR microspectroscopy of fossil algae contained in organic-rich shales. Applied Spectroscopy 47:265–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin R, Ritz GP (1993b) Studying individual macerals using i.r. microspectroscopy, and implications on oil versus gas/condensate proneness and “low-rank” generation. Organic Geochemistry 20:695–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lis GP, Schummelmann A, Mastalerz M (2005) D/H ratios and hydrogen exchangeability of type-II kerogens with increasing thermal maturity. Organic Geochemistry 27:342–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Lis GP, Mastalerz M, Schimmelmann A, Lewan MD, Stankiewicz BA (2005) FTIR absorption indices for thermal maturity in comparison with vitrinite reflectance R 0 in type-II kerogens from Devonian black shales. Organic Geochemistry 36:1533–1552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastalerz M, Bustin RM (1993) Variation in maceral chemistry within and between coals of varying rank: an electron microprobe and micro-Fourier transform infra-red investigation. Journal of Microscopy 171:153–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter PC, Snyder RW, Starsinic M, Coleman MM, Kuehn DW, Davis A (1981) Concerning the application of FT-IR to the study of coal: a critical assessment of band assignments and the application of spectral analysis programs. Applied Spectroscopy 35:475–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter PC, Starsinic M, Squires E, Davis AA (1983) Concerning the 1600 cm−1 region in the i.r. spectrum of coal. Fuel 62:742–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palacios-Fest MR, Cohen AS, Lezzar KE, Nahimana L, Tanner BM (2005) Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: III. Physical stratigraphy and charcoal analysis. Journal of Paleolimnology 34:31–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riesser B, Starsinic M, Squires E, Davis A, Painter PC (1984) Determination of aromatic and aliphatic CH groups in coal by FT-i.r. 2. Studies of coals and vitrinite concentrates. Fuel 63:1253–1261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruau O, Landais P, Gardette JL (1997) Quantitative analysis of powdered organic matter by transmission infrared microspectroscopy using a diamond-window compression cell. Fuel 76:645–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobkowiak M, Painter P (1992) Determination of the aliphatic and aromatic CH contents of coals by FT-i.r.: studies of coal extracts. Fuel 71:1105–1125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon PR, Carangelo RM (1988) FT-i.r. analysis of coal. 2. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrogen concentration. Fuel 67:949–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starsinic M, Otake Y, Walker Jr, PL, Painter PC (1984) Application of FT-i.r. spectroscopy to the determination of COOH groups in coal. Fuel 63:1002–1007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S-H, Griffiths PR (1985) Resolution enhancement of diffuse reflectance i.r. spectra of coals by Fourier-self deconvolution. 1. C–H stretching and bending modes. Fuel 64:229–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Our thanks to Prof. Dr. Joachim Reitner for the excellent organisation of the International Kalkowsky Symposium: Geobiology of Stromatolites.

We are indebted to the anonymous reviewer for his suggestions, which greatly improved the manuscript.

This research was founded by Università della Calabria, PRIN 2007.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Via P. Bucci Cubo 15b, I-87036, Rende, CS, Italy

    Adelaide Mastandrea, Adriano Guido, Fabio Demasi, Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo & Franco Russo

Authors
  1. Adelaide Mastandrea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adriano Guido
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fabio Demasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Franco Russo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adelaide Mastandrea .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mastandrea, A., Guido, A., Demasi, F., Ruffolo, S.A., Russo, F. (2011). The Characterisation of Sedimentary Organic Matter in Carbonates with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. In: Advances in Stromatolite Geobiology. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 131. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10415-2_21

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation