Comparison study between sources of n-alkanes in sediments from north-west Arabian gulf and red sea-coast of Yemen

Abstract EN

Sediment samples, taken from different locations in North -West Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea coast of Yemen, were analyzed to determine origins and sources of n-alkanes .

In sediments of North - West Arabian Gulf odd and even carbon number were observed.

These came from different sources such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacteria and fungi; higher molecular weight compound was also found as another source.

While in the sediments of the Red Sea coast of Yemen, it has been recognized that distribution exhibiting odd-carbon number predominance in C15-C21 and C25-C31 range which is a characteristic of autochthonous and allochthonous natural input, where slight even carbon number Predominance in the C20 - C30 rang invoked for reduction or bacterial Processes.

These data indicated that the area contains lower levels of n-alkanes than other areas of the world.