2023 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Insights into hydrocarbons cycling in the subsurface from isotopologue analysis
| Project/Area Number |
21H01198
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Institute of Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
ジルベルト アレキシー 東京工業大学, 理学院, 准教授 (20726955)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
中川 麻悠子 東京工業大学, 理学院, 研究員 (20647664)
山田 桂太 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 准教授 (70323780)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | Hydrocarbons / Stable isotopes / Subsurface life / Isotopologues |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The goal of this project was to use newly developed isotope analyses to understand hydrocarbons cycling in the subsurface. While it is known microorganisms can play a role in producing and consuming hydrocarbons in the subsurface, a quantitative estimation of these processes is not always accessible.
Here, we proposed to use novel methods based on isotopologues (isotopically substituted molecules) to shed light on the origin and history of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. We take advantage of mud volanoes, i.e., structures emitting gases and water from the deep subsurface to the surface.
Using mutiply-subsituted methane isotopologues in combination with position-specific isotope composition of propane, we were able to (i) quantify the amount of methane produced from the degradation of other hydrocarbons in Tokamachi mud volcano in Niigata pref. (Zhang et al. in prep). This is of crucial importance because there currently is no estimate for this process; (ii) quantify the amount of archaea- vs bacteria biodegradation (Jajalla et al,. in prep), which is a first in the world and (iii) shed light on the nature of fluids emitted from Goshogake mud volcano (Akita pref.) and show that this mud volano was indeed a hydrob system between geothermal and sedimentary mud volano (Mazzini et al.; prep.)
Overall, our project led to new and refined information that would not have been accessible with conventional isotope method, which makes this project a great success.
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| Research Progress Status |
令和5年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
令和5年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
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