Effects of Biodegradation on the Distribution of Alkylcarbazoles in Crude Oils

We have investigated the distributions of alkylcarbazoles in a series of crude oils with different biodegradation extents, in combination with biomarker parameters, stable carbon isotopic ratios and viscosities. The analyses showed that slight biodegradation has little effect on alkylcarbazoles. The concentrations of C\-0-, C\-1-, and C\-2-carbazoles seem to display a slight decrease with biodegradation through the moderately biodegraded stage, and an abrupt decrease to the heavily biodegraded stage. The relative concentrations of C\-0-, C\-1-, and C\-2-carbazoles do not show any apparent change in the non-heavily biodegraded stages, but through non-heavily biodegraded to heavily biodegraded stages, the percentages of C\-0- and C\-1-carbazoles decrease, and those of C\-2-carbazoles increase significantly, which may indicate that C\-2-carbazoles are more resistant to biodegradation than lower homologous species. As to C\-2-carbazole isomers, the relative concentrations of the pyrrolic N-H-shielded, pyrrolic N-H partially shielded and pyrrolic N-H-exposed isomers do not show any obvious variation in the non-heavily biodegraded oil, but there is an abrupt change through the mid-biodegraded stage to the heavily biodegraded stage.