CHARACTERIZATION OF ESTONIAN KUKERSITE BY SPECTROSCOPY AND PYROLYSIS - EVIDENCE FOR ABUNDANT ALKYL PHENOLIC MOIETIES IN AN ORDOVICIAN, MARINE, TYPE-II/I-KEROGEN

The kerogen of a sample of Estonian Kukersite (Ordovician) was examined by spectroscopic (solid state C-13 NMR, FTIR) and pyrolytic ("off-line", flash) methods. This revealed an important contribution of long, linear alkyl chains in Kukersite kerogen. The hydrocarbons formed upon pyrolysis are dominated by n-alk-1-enes and probably reflect a major contribution of selectively preserved, highly aliphatic, resistant biomacromolecules from the outer cell walls of Gloeocapsomorpha prisca. This is consistent with the abundant presence of this fossilized organism in Kukersite kerogen. In addition high amounts of phenolic compounds were identified in the pyrolysates. Series of non-methylated, mono-, di- and trimethylated 3-n-alkylphenols, 5-n-alkyl-1, 3-benzenediols and n-alkylhydroxybenzofurans were identified. All series of phenolic compounds contain long (up to C19), linear alkyl side-chains. Kukersite kerogen is, therefore, an aliphatic type II/I kerogen, despite the abundance of free phenolic moieties. This study shows that phenol-derived moieties are not necessarily associated with higher plant-derived organic matter. The flash pyrolysate of Kukersite kerogen was also compared with that of the kerogen of the Guttenberg Oil Rock (Ordovician) which is also composed of accumulations of fossilized G. prisca. Similarities in the distributions of hydrocarbons and sulphur compounds were noted, especially for the C1-C6 alkylbenzene and alkylthiophene distributions. However, no phenolic compounds were detected in the flash pyrolysate of the Guttenberg kerogen. Possible explanations for the observed similarities and differences are discussed.