Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Low-temperature formation of hydrocarbon gases in San Francisco Bay sediment (California, U.S.A.)

January 1, 1982

To understand the processes responsible for the presence of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons (C1-C4) in anoxic environments, we studied sediments collected from an anaerobic estuarine mudflat. In these sediments methane (C1) was several orders of magnitude more abundant than all other C2-C4 hydrocarbons; the C1 (C2 + C3) ratio was ??? 13,000. Mean ethane/ethene and propane/propene ratios were 0.4 and 0.7, respectively. Production of C1-C4 hydrocarbons was monitored during prolonged incubation (7 months) of sediments at 27?? and 4??C. Samples stored at 27??C generated significant quantities of C1-C4 hydrocarbon gases. Incubation at 4??C inhibited production of these gases. Several bactericides were tested with respect to their ability to inhibit formation of gaseous hydrocarbons. Sodium azide, chloroform, and 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid effectively inhibited methane formation, but not ethene formation in dilute continuously-shaken sediment slurries. Zephiran chloride only caused partial inhibition of methanogenesis (46%) and ethene generation (34%) in these slurries. In experiments with more concentrated unshaken sediment slurries, however, zephiran chloride and sodium azide did not block formation of methane, ethane, or propane. Only storage at -10??C prevented production of these gases. These results indicate that C1-C4 hydrocarbons can be formed by low-temperature reactions, possibly mediated by microorganisms. ?? 1982.

Publication Year 1982
Title Low-temperature formation of hydrocarbon gases in San Francisco Bay sediment (California, U.S.A.)
DOI 10.1016/0009-2541(82)90084-5
Authors T.M. Vogel, R.S. Oremland, K. A. Kvenvolden
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Chemical Geology
Index ID 70011490
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization San Francisco Bay-Delta; Pacific Regional Director's Office