Issue 48, 2022, Issue in Progress

Maleimide index: a paleo-redox index based on fragmented fossil-chlorophylls obtained by chromic acid oxidation

Abstract

The composition of past photosynthetic organisms provides information about the paleo-environment based on the habitat characteristics of photosynthetic organisms. Therefore, analysis of chlorophyll-derived materials from photosynthetic organisms in sedimentary rocks is important for understanding paleo-environmental changes. Fossilized chlorophylls present in sedimentary rocks can be detected by their conversion into maleimides and phthalimides. This can be achieved through the chromic acid oxidation of sedimentary rocks. Since the maleimides and phthalimides are derived from the pyrrole skeleton of fossil chlorophylls, their composition reflects the composition of paleo-photosynthetic organisms. We herein propose an indicator for detecting anoxic-sulfidic conditions in the paleo oceanic photic zone, which is based on the composition ratio of the maleimides produced during the oxidation process. The maleimide index in this study would be a useful analytical method to indicate that anoxic-sulfidic conditions in the paleo oceanic photic zone, which is associated with mass extinction events, have occurred.

Graphical abstract: Maleimide index: a paleo-redox index based on fragmented fossil-chlorophylls obtained by chromic acid oxidation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Jul 2022
Accepted
25 Oct 2022
First published
31 Oct 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2022,12, 31061-31067

Maleimide index: a paleo-redox index based on fragmented fossil-chlorophylls obtained by chromic acid oxidation

K. Asahina, S. Takahashi, R. Saito, K. Kaiho and Y. Oba, RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 31061 DOI: 10.1039/D2RA04702K

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