ORGANIC MATTER IN THE THERMAL WATERS OF BELOKURIKHA
V.A. Poturay1, V.N. Kompanichenko1, A.A. Redin2
1Institute for Complex Analysis of Regional Problems, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Birobidzhan, Russia
2Hydrogeological Survey of AO Kurort Belokurikha, Belokurikha, Russia
Keywords: Organic matter, thermal waters, genesis, bacterial activity, hydrocarbons
Abstract
The present study is aimed at the determination of organic compounds in thermal waters of the Belokurikha deposit (Altai Territory), which is important both for balneology and for regional ecology. The TOC concentration ranges from 0.42 to 0.55 mg/L. Using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and solid phase extraction, 69 organic compounds were identified, which form 16 homologous series. Normal and isoalkanes (25%), carboxylic acids and their esters (24%), and aromatic hydrocarbons (14%) are predominant in the thermal waters. The molecular-weight distribution of normal hydrocarbons (the odd/even ratio is 1.3-1.5, ACL = 16.6-17.5) and the presence of characteristic compounds indicate that the organic matter in the studied waters is of autochthonous, predominantly bacterial origin. Some of the identified components suggest a low degree of technogenic pollution of the waters (phthalates and compounds containing a tert-butyl group and chlorine). Oxygen-bearing compounds might exert a therapeutic effect on the human body. Comparison of the studied thermal waters with Far Eastern hot springs showed both a great similarity in the distribution of organic compounds and a difference because of the contribution of plant detritus to the formation of the organic component of Far Eastern thermal waters.
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