georefid:2010-085986SEDIS Publication Catalogueana.macario@awi.dehttp://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/informationpointOfContact2011-07-06T00:00:00Zhttp://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=10.1073/pnas.0606535103<gco:CharacterString>Biological formation of ethane and propane in the deep marine subsurface</gco:CharacterString>2006-01-01publicationgeorefid:2010-085986doi:10.1073/pnas.0606535103Hinrichs, Kai-UweUniversity of Bremen, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Research Center Ocean Margins, Bremen, Federal Republic of GermanyauthorHayes, John M.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, United StatesauthorBach, WolfgangUniversity of Rhode Island, United StatesauthorSpivack, Arthur J.Stockholm University, SwedenauthorHmelo, Laura R.authorHolm, Nils G.authorJohnson, Carl G.authorSylva, Sean P.authorNational Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, United StatespublisherdocumentHardcopyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America103 (40)14684-14689Concentrations and isotopic compositions of ethane and propane in cold, deeply buried sediments from the southeastern Pacific are best explained by microbial production of these gases in situ. Reduction of acetate to ethane provides one feasible mechanism. Propane is enriched in (super 13) C relative to ethane. The amount is consistent with derivation of the third C from inorganic carbon dissolved in sedimentary pore waters. At typical sedimentary conditions, the reactions yield free energy sufficient for growth. Relationships with competing processes are governed mainly by the abundance of H (sub 2) . Production of C (sub 2) and C (sub 3) hydrocarbons in this way provides a sink for acetate and hydrogen but upsets the general belief that hydrocarbons larger than methane derive only from thermal degradation of fossil organic material.completedIsotope geochemistryOceanographyaliphatic hydrocarbonsalkanesbiogenic processesC-13carbonD/HdegradationEast PacificEquatorial Pacificethanehydrocarbonshydrogenisotope ratiosisotopesLeg 201marine sedimentsmicroorganismsOcean Drilling ProgramODP Site 1226ODP Site 1227ODP Site 1228ODP Site 1229ODP Site 1230ODP Site 1231organic compoundsPacific OceanPeru-Chile TrenchpropanesedimentsSouth PacificSoutheast Pacificstable isotopesurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1226urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1227urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1228urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1229urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1230urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignurn:org.iodp:exp:201:site:1231urnlargerWorkCitationstudyurn:org.iodp:exp:201urnlargerWorkCitationcampaignEnglishgeoscientificInformation-110.3500-77.5500-12.05003.5000Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Research Center Ocean Margins RCOM Publ. No. 418