Fast quantitative analysis of n-alkanes, PAHs and alkenones in sediments

The study of different organic biomarker classes is essential to elucidate global Earth dynamics since biogeochemical processes play a role in regulating environmental and climatic conditions. However, multiproxy analysis generally consists labor-intensive time-consuming methodologies, which hamper the large number samples. Here, we develop validate fast analytical method quantify biomarkers (PAHs, n-alkanes alkenones) sediments. This new sequentally extracts fractionates target compounds using pressure liquid extraction (PLE) system, allows us selectively obtain analytes by reducing time analysis, sample handling solvent usage. We show that our provides reproducible results high recoveries (>70%), can be applied wide range sedimentary environments, such as oceanic basins, continental slope shelf, lakes. Moreover, estimates paleoclimatic indices, carbon preference index (CPI), average chain length (ACL) U37K'-derived sea-surface temperature (SST). Therefore, this enables quantitative oceanic, coastal lake