A New Parameter for Maturity Assessment of Organic Materials in Sediments Based on Thermal Isomerization of Monomethylphenanthrenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1994.1917

Monomethylphenanthrenes(MPs) were isomerized by heating in the presence of Na-montmorillonite to give a mixture of four isomers (1-, 2-, 3-, and 9-MP).The ratio of 1- and 2-MP produced from each isomer reached a constant value after appropriate time of heating.The ratio provides a new parameter for maturity assessment of sedimentary organic materials.