INVESTIGATION ON THE SEDIMENT OF LAKE VAN, TURKEY I – OIL CONTENT

Investigation on the sediment of Lake Van, Turkey I – oil content

K.C. Güven, B. Öztürk, S. Ünlü, M. Görgün, N. Hanilci

Istanbul University, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Müsküle sok., 1, Vefa Istanbul, TURKEY
Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, Ordu cad. No:200, Laleli, Istanbul, TURKEY
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), Beykoz, Istanbul, TURKEY
Istanbul University, Engineering Faculty, Geology, Avcilar, Istanbul TURKEY

Abstract

In this work hydrocarbon compounds of sediments were investigated in Lake Van. The samples were taken at 7 stations between 10-320 m depths.The highest oil level was found 4.69 µg/g at the station 2. The compounds identified by GC/MS were in aliphatic groups: 17 saturated, 4 cyclic, 5 unsaturated, 5 alcohol, 1 keton, 3 aldehyde and 4 fatty acids and in aromatic groups: 1 ring 1,2 rings 2 and 1 pregnane (5 beta). The compounds identified as: saturated compounds C₅ – C₄₃ are homologue series hydrocarbons, whereas alcohol, keton and aldehyde compounds are microbial oxydation products of saturated hydrocarbon compounds. Aromatic groups; phenol, and oxydation products of furane and benzofurane are oil products. This is the first record for the oil investigation in Lake Van.

Keywords: Lake Van, sediments, hydrocarbons