Compositlonal and Carbon Isotopic Behavior of C(19) and C(20) Isoprenoid THydrocarbons Produced by Laboratory Heating of Phytol: A Study of Formation of Pristane and TPhytane from Chlorophylls on Diagenesis

Carbon isotopic ratios (delta(13)C) of isoprenoid hydrocarbons (isops) produced by heating (300-350 (degree)C) of phytol were measured for understanding diagenetic reaction of chlorophylls, C(19) isop was isotopically lighter than the phytol at the early stage of the heating and lighter than C(20) isop regardless of heating temperature and time. Difference in delta(13)C between Cl9 and C(20) isops observed in this study was similar to that observed for some petroleum.