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Natural abundances of carbon isotopes in acetate from a coastal marine sedimentMeasurements of the natural abundances of carbon isotopes were made in acetate samples isolated from the anoxic marine sediment of Cape Lookout Bight, North Carolina. The typical value of the total acetate carbon isotope ratio (delta 13C) was -16.1 +/- 0.2 per mil. The methyl and carboxyl groups were determined to be -26.4 +/- 0.3 and -6.0 +/- 0.3 per mil, respectively, for one sample. The isotopic composition of the acetate is thought to have resulted from isotopic discriminations that occurred during the cycling of that molecule. Measurements of this type, which have not been made previously in the natural environment, may provide information about the dominant microbial pathways in anoxic sediments as well as the processes that influence the carbon isotopic composition of biogenic methane from many sources.
Document ID
20040089618
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Blair, N. E.
(North Carolina State University Raleigh 27695, United States)
Martens, C. S.
Des Marais, D. J.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
April 3, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 236
ISSN: 0036-8075
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: OCE82-08666
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-838
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-593
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Discipline Number 52-30
NASA Program Exobiology
NASA Center ARC

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