ALIPHATIC-AMINES IN CHESAPEAKE BAY SEDIMENTS

Aliphatic amines were determined in sediments and sediment pore waters from several contrasting sites in Chesapeake Bay. The aliphatic amine s diethylamine, sec-butylamine, n-propylamine, and i-propylamine were detected in a limited number of pore-water samples at concentrations g enerally less than similar to 0.6 mu M. The occurrence of these amines showed no obvious correlation to other sediment geochemical parameter s. Whole sediment (HF/HCl-extractable) aliphatic amines were less than similar to 0.8 nmol/gdw. Isoamylamine and 2-methylbutylamine were the only amines that could be detected and quantified in sediment extract s, although diethylamine was below our detection limit in selected sam ples. When compared to other measured nitrogen pools in the sediments, these observations suggested that aliphatic amines may not represent a significant fraction of the nitrogen that is remineralized in these sediments, although more detailed concentration and rate studies are n eeded to verify their role in sediment nitrogen cycling. These aliphat ic amines also did not appear to represent a major component of the un characterized nitrogen in these sediments.