Teofilo (Jun) A. Abrajano, Jr.
Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Director, Environmental Science Program
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Phone: (518) 276-6036; Fax: (518) 276-6680; email: abrajt@rpi.edu
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Stable
Isotope Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Geochemistry: return to top of page
Compound-specific stable isotope analysis is quickly changing the
face of earth and environmental sciences. The impact is felt most in biogeochemical
and environmental research, which themselves are fields undergoing tremendous
evolution. Basic and applied questions pertaining to pollutant fate and
transport, and renewed interest on paleo- and modern
surface environments including the site of life's origin continue to demand
more definitive methods of investigations.
A common theme of our research projects
is the elucidation of the sources and fate of biogenic and anthropogenic organic
compounds in surface and groundwater systems using compound-specific stable
isotope measurements. We have investigated a wide range of priority pollutants
including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), common solvents, fuel
products and additives, and other petroleum hydrocarbons, to unravel their
sources and quantify their transport and degradation in surface and groundwater
environments. We are particularly interested in establishing the "systematics" of isotope fractionation accompanying
transport, metabolism and biodegradation of organic contaminants for
incorporation into quantitative models needed to assess contamination history
and predict future contaminant behavior.
Our studies of natural biogenic compounds
parallel our studies of contaminant sources and pathways. In particular, we
examine the sources and pathways of biogenic compounds, including various lipid
classes, phenylpropanoids and S compounds, to examine
the cycling of C and S role in aquatic environments. The study of lipid classes
allows us to delineate energy flow and carbon transfer from primary producers
to the food web, thus giving us essential information on trophic
structure and linkages in modern and paleo-ecosystems.
In addition to lipids, our studies of terrestrial systems had also included the
use of lignin-derived biomarkers to examine the specific role of vascular plant
sources in the carbon cycle. The research objectives are to likewise establish
the relevant isotope "systematics" and to
credibly apply the approach to field studies of organic matter sources,
transport, metabolism and degradation.
PCB, GSB1,
GSB2, Noah's Flood
Recent Publications return
to top of page
Abrajano, T. A., O'Malley, V. and Yan, B.
(2003) CHAPTER 13: High Molecular Weight Petrogenic
and Pyrogenic Hydrocarbons in Aquatic Environments,
In Treatise of Geochemistry, (B.
Sherwood-Lollar, Volume Editor;
Namocatcat, J.A., Fang, J.,
Stark, A. (deceased), Abrajano,
T., Hellou, J. and Smith, J., (2003) Molecular and
Isotopic Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Distribution and
Sources at the International Segment of the St. Lawrence River, Organic
Geochemistry 34, 225-237.
Ramos, C.S., Parrish ,
C.C., Quibuyen, T. and Abrajano, T. (2003) Fatty acid and
lipid class biogeochemistry of rapidly settling particles during a spring bloom
in a cold ocean environment, Organic Geochemistry 34,
195-207.
Pulchan, K.J., Helleur,
R. and Abrajano, T.A. (2003) TMAH thermochemolysis characterization of marine sedimentary organic
matter in a Newfoundland fjord, Organic Geochemistry 34,
305-317.
Abrajano, T., Aksu, A., Hiscott, R.N., and Mudie, P.J.
(2002) Aspects of
carbon isotope biogeochemistry of Late Quaternary sediments from the Marmara Sea and Black Sea, Marine Geology
190, 151-164.
Aksu, A.E., Hiscott,
R.N. , Kaminski, M.A., Mudie,
P.J., Abrajano, T. and Yasar, D. (2002) Last
glacial-Holocene paleoceanography of the Black Sea
and Marmara Sea: stable isotopic, foraminiferal
and coccolith evidence, Marine Geology
190, 119-150.
Fang, J., Barcelona, M. J., Abrajano,
T. A., Nogi, Y., and Kato, C. (2002) Isotopic
composition of fatty acids isolated from the extremely piezophilic
bacteria from the Mariana Trench at 11,000 Meters. Marine
Chemistry 80, 1-9.
Parrish, C. C., Abrajano, T.
A., Budge, S. M., Favaro, Y. L., Helleur, R. J., Hudson, E. D. and Pulchan,
K. 2002. The marine environment: Past and present inputs to Trinity Bay. In The
Resilient Outport: Ecology, Economy and Society in
Rural Newfoundland, ed. R. E. Ommer. ISER, St. John’s,
NF, pp. 40-72..
Aksu, A.E., Hiscott,
R.N., Mudie, P.J/, Rochon,
A., Kaminski, M.A., Abrajano, T., and Yas¸ ar, D. (2002) Persistent
Holocene Outflow from the Black Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean Contradicts
Noah's Flood Hypothesis, GSA Today 12, 4-10.
Abrajano T, Stark A, Smith, J. and Hellou, J (2002) Molecular and Carbon Isotopic
Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Distribution in Mussels and
Associated Sediments from the Massena-Cornwall Area, St. Lawrence River,
Goldschmidt Conference, Davos, Switzerland, p.24.
Fang, J. Barcelona, M.J., Abrajano,
T., and Kato, C., 2002, Stable carbon
isotopic composition of fatty acids of extremely peizophilic
bacteria from the Mariana Trench, Geological Society of America,
Programs with Abstracts, Denver, CO.
Abrajano,
T.A. and Bopp, R.F. (2001) Sources and chronology of polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon deposition in sediments from the lower Hudson watershed. Goldschmidt Conference, Hot Springs,
Virginia USA, p. 78.
Diegor, W. , Longerich , H., Abrajano, T. , and Horn,
Parrish,
C., Abrajano, T., et al. (2000) Lipid and Phenolic Biomarkers in Marine Ecosystems: Analysis and
Applications, in HANDBOOK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY Vol. 5 Part D
Marine Chemistry, Wangersky, P., Ed.,
Abrajano, T.A. and Sherwood Lollar,
B. (1999) Compound
specific isotope analysis: tracing organic contaminant sources and processes in
geochemical systems. Special Issue of Organic
Geochemistry, v 30 (n 8A): v-vii (Introductory Note).
Dayan, H., Abrajano, T.A., Sturchio, N. C., and Winsor, L.
(1999) Carbon isotopic fractionation during
reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated ethenes by metallic iron. Organic Geochemistry v 30 (n
8A): 755-764.
Aksu, A.E., Abrajano, T.A., Mudie, P. and Yasar, D. (1999) Organic geochemical and palynological evidence for terrigenous
origin of organic matter in the Aegean Sea Sapropel
S1. Marine
Geology 153, 303-318.
Huang, L., N.C. Sturchio, Abrajano, T.A. et.al.
(1999) Carbon and
chlorine isotope fractionation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons by
evaporation. Organic Geochemistry v 30 (n 8A):
777-786.
Heraty, L.,, M.E. Fuller, Huang, L., Abrajano,
T.A. and N. Sturchio. (1999) Isotopic fractionation
of carbon and chlorine by microbial degradation of dichloromethane. Organic
Geochemistry v 30 (n 8A): 793-800.
Stehmeier, L. G., Francis, M. McD,
Jack, T. R., Diegor, E., Winsor,
L., and Abrajano, T.A. (1999) Field and in vitro evidence for
in-situ bioremediation using compound-specific 13C/12C
ratio monitoring. Organic Geochemistry v 30 (n 8A): 821-834.
Abrajano,
T.A., Bieger, T. and, Hellou, J. (1998)
Reply to Grossi and de Leeuw, Organic
Geochemistry 28, 137.
Pelayo, A.M. and Abrajano, T.A. (1998) Understanding generic soil clean:
implications on agricultural chemicals, J. Soil Contamination
v 7, 357-370.
Smirnov, A., Abrajano, T.
A., Sminov, A., and Stark, A. (1998) Distribution and
sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of Lake Erie, Part
1. Spatial distribution, transport, and deposition. Organic
Geochemistry 29(5-7):1813-1828.
Sturchio, N. C., Clausen, J. L., Heraty, L. J., Huang, L, Holt, B. D., and Abrajano, T. A.
(1998) Chlorine isotope
investigation of natural attenuation of trichloroethene
in an aerobic aquifer. Environmental Science and Technology
32(20):3037-3042.
Bieger, T., Abrajano, T. A., and Hellou, J. (1997) Generation of
biogenic hydrocarbons during a spring bloom in NW Atlantic waters. Organic
Geochemistry 26:207-218.
Pulchan, J. Abrajano, T. A. and Helleur, R. (1997) Characterization of tetramethylammonium hydroxide thermochemolysis
products of near-shore marine sediments using gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry,
Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 40
(2), 135-150.
Holt, B. D., Sturchio, N. C., and Abrajano, T. A. (1997) High-temperature
method for conversion of chlorinated organic compounds to methyl chloride and
CO2 for isotopic analysis of chlorine and carbon.
Analytical Chemistry 69:2727-2733.
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