Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Pyrolysis GC/MS as a rapid screening tool for determination of peat-forming plant composition in cores from ombrotrophic peat

McClymont, E.L.; Bingham, E.M.; Nott, C.J.; Chambers, F.M.; Pancost, R.D.; Evershed, R.P.

Authors

E.M. Bingham

C.J. Nott

F.M. Chambers

R.D. Pancost

R.P. Evershed



Abstract

Peat cores provide decadal to centennial records of climatic and environmental change, including evidence for human/environment interaction. Existing palaeoenvironmental proxies (macrofossils, pollen, humification, testate amoebae, lipid composition) require multiple laboratory preparation steps and may be subject to differential preservation that can limit production of a continuous time series. The potential for pyrolysis gas-chromatography–mass-spectrometry (Py–GC–MS) to be applied to bulk peat samples is investigated here. The only preparatory step required was freeze drying. Analysis of a range of important peat-forming plants demonstrates that Sphagnum moss species are unique in containing the pyrolysis product of sphagnum acid, 4-isopropenylphenol. In contrast, non-Sphagnum species are rich in lignin pyrolysis products, which are absent from Sphagnum. The presence of these pyrolysis markers is reflected in bulk peat composition and tested here using archives from Bolton Fell Moss and Butterburn Flow (UK), Kontolanrahka (Finland) and Bissendorfer Moor (Germany). A ratio between 4-isopropenylphenol and two lignin pyrolysis products is proposed as a proxy for total Sphagnum input to peat archives and shows potential for use as a rapid screening tool for characterising bulk peat composition before more intensive analysis.

Citation

McClymont, E., Bingham, E., Nott, C., Chambers, F., Pancost, R., & Evershed, R. (2011). Pyrolysis GC/MS as a rapid screening tool for determination of peat-forming plant composition in cores from ombrotrophic peat. Organic Geochemistry, 42(11), 1420-1435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.07.004

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2011
Deposit Date Oct 17, 2011
Journal Organic Geochemistry
Print ISSN 0146-6380
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Issue 11
Pages 1420-1435
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.07.004