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Distribution, Sources and Affecting Factors of Normal Alkanes in Soils of Xi'an Outskirts
  
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KeyWord:topsoil; groundwater; n-alkanes; soil properties; source
Author NameAffiliation
WANG Wen-yan College of Resources and Environmental Science,Northwest A&F University,Yangling 712100,China
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Beijing 100012,China 
ZHANG Juan Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Beijing 100012,China 
WANG Lin-quan College of Resources and Environmental Science,Northwest A&F University,Yangling 712100,China 
HOU Hong Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Beijing 100012,China 
LI Fa-sheng Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences,State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Beijing 100012,China 
LI Xue-fang College of Resources and Environmental Science,Northwest A&F University,Yangling 712100,China 
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Abstract:
      Normal(n)-alkanes in the environment may come from uses of petroleum and natural gas. In this study, contents of n-ankanes in thirty-seven topsoil and thirty-seven groundwater samples, collected from typical vegetable fields in the outskirts of Xi′an city, were analyzed using gas chromatograph with mass selective detection(GC/MS). Total n-alkane concentrations in the soils varied from 1.06 to 4.01 μg·g-1. N-alkanes with odd C number were predominant in most soil samples. No significant differences were found between different areas. Total n-alkane concentrations in the groundwater samples ranged from 9.2 to 99.35 μg·L-1. Compared to other regions, n-alkane concentrations in soil and groundwater were higher in the outskirts of Xi′an city. Sources of n-alkanes in soils of this region were mainly terrestrial higher plants, especially herbaceous plants. There was positive correlation between the concentrations of n-alkanes and soil properties such as organic matter, moisture content, C/N and C/P. Organic matter and moisture content determined the distribution of n-alkanes in soil.