Abstract:
Two nanoplanktonic marine coccolithophores, Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica, were grown at 23°C with a 16-hour light and 8-hour darkness regimen. The cells were dried at room temperature and then subjected to pyrolysis at 100° to 500°C under anoxygenic conditions to produce hydrocarbons. Temperature-dependent profiles of the liquid-saturated hydrocarbons (saturates) produced during pyrolysis were very similar for the two strains, although the total amount was higher in E. huxleyi than in G. oceanica. The amount of saturates produced was only 0.05% to 0.15% below 200°C, but about 2.1% to 2.8% at 300°C. Their major components were normal alkanes in a series ranging from nC11 to nC35 with the predominant peak at nC15. At 400° and 500°C most of saturates transformed into gaseous compounds. The major saturates identified in all pyrolysates were normal C31 monounsaturated and diunsaturated alkenes, a series of normal alkanes, phytenes, C28 sterenes, and steranes. Profiles of saturates in gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy varied with increasing pyrolysis temperature and also differed between E. huxleyi and G. oceanica. The two coccolithophores are useful candidates for the production of renewable liquid fuel through pyrolysis—especially E. huxleyi, which has higher production. The results also provide information for further studies on the characterization, source, and paleogeographic distribution of marine sediment.
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Received October 28, 1998; accepted February 15, 1999
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Wu, Q., Shiraiwa, Y., Takeda, H. et al. Liquid-Saturated Hydrocarbons Resulting from Pyrolysis of the Marine Coccolithophores Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica . Mar. Biotechnol. 1, 346–352 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011785
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011785