Geochemical investigations of sedimentary rocks - fossil fuels and environmental pollutants

The main object of the planned investigations are different types of organic substances in the crust of the Earth: (a) those representing the organic part of most important fossil fuels (such as bitumen and kerogen in coals and oil shales), (b) those being fossil fuels themselves (crude oil), and (c) those which are genetically related to either of them. They all represent native sedimentary organic substances which closely interact with dominant native inorganic materials. In this way, investigation of biomarkers and aromatic hydrocarbons will be continued, as well as investigation of new methods used in kerogen structural studies. Both of them will be followed by study of geological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of sedimentary basins located in Serbia, but also a few located in some other countries. Bearing in mind that petroleum potential of Serbian territory sediments have not yet been fully explored, the planned investigations become practically important. On the other hand, since fossil fuels do generate pollution by emitting organic and inorganic substances dispersed to all segments of the environment, the proposed project shall involve studies of pollutants originating from exploitation of fossil fiels, their transport, processing and consumption of their products. Transformation of individual types of pollutants in different natural environments will be studied, as well as methods for total or partial elimination of pollutants from the environment.