Diagenetic changes of lignin compounds in a more than 0.6 million-year-old lacustrine sediment (Lake Biwa, Japan)
Abstract
A vertical profile of lignin in the upper 700 m layer of a 1400 m sediment core of Lake Biwa, an oligotrophic freshwater lake in Japan, was determined using a CuO oxidative degradation method. The results indicated that lignin is found throughout the core, demonstrating lignin to be very stable for over 0.6 million years. Moreover, the upper 250 m (approximately 0.6 million years old) segment of the sediment core was investigated to determine the apparent long term degradation rate of lignin. A downward lignin concentration decrease is observed over the upper 250 m of the core which corresponds to a calculated half life of at least approximately 40 × 10 4 years, assuming that lignin decrease is due to its in situ degradation (diagenesis).
- Publication:
-
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- Pub Date:
- February 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0016-7037(87)90244-4
- Bibcode:
- 1987GeCoA..51..321I