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Distribution and sources of lipid compound series in sediment cores of the southern South China Sea

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Abstract

Three short sediment cores from inner continental shelf of the southern South China Sea (5–50 km) off Terengganu were analyzed for lipid contents (i.e., homologous aliphatic compounds and sterols) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The concentrations of the total aliphatic hydrocarbons (TAHs) ranged from 0.152 to 6.91 μg/g dry weight. The n-alkane distribution was from nC13 to nC36, with a carbon preference index (CPI13–35) from 1.08 to 4.28 and a carbon number maximum (Cmax), depending on a sample, at 31 or 18. In addition, a strong odd-to-even carbon number predominance was observed in nC25–nC35 range. The distribution of the n-alkanoic acids and n-alkanols in all samples exhibited an even-to-odd carbon number predominance and ranged from C10 to C26 and from C12 to C34, respectively. The n-alkanols were dominated by the long-chain homologs with Cmax at 22; on the other hand, the n-alkanoic acid distributions showed a predominance of short-chain homologs with a Cmax at 16. The total sterol concentrations ranged from 0.41 to 3.57 μg/g dry weight. Cholesterol was most abundant at the offshore stations, whereas sitosterol was dominant at near-shore station. Pentacyclic triterpenoids such as friedelin and taraxerol α- and β-amyrins, which are known biomarkers for higher plants, were detected at all stations with a dilution trend offshore. In conclusion, the marine sediments off southern Terengganu can still be considered uncontaminated, where the compound sources are biogenic from terrestrial plants superimposed with a marine productivity input.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) e-Science Fund (Grant No. 04-01-12-SF0065) is kindly acknowledged. The Chemistry Department and Institute of Oceanography, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, provided critical laboratory coordination and support. We also thank all technical staffs who assisted during sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Group, School of Marine and Environmental Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Mengabang Telipot, 21030, Kuala, Terengganu, Malaysia

    N. Mohd Tahir & S. Y. Pang

  2. Fellow Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Mengabang Telipot, 21030, Kuala, Terengganu, Malaysia

    N. Mohd Tahir

  3. Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    B. R. T. Simoneit

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  1. N. Mohd Tahir
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Tahir, N.M., Pang, S.Y. & Simoneit, B.R.T. Distribution and sources of lipid compound series in sediment cores of the southern South China Sea. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 7557–7568 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4184-5

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