Porphyrins in black trona water

Abstract

Metalloporphyrins have been found in black trona water, a solution of sodium salts of organic acids occurring naturally in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. The porphyrins consist largely of nickel deoxophylloerythrin, a C-33 acid, and two lower methylene homologues, C-32 and C-31 acids, and possibly structural isomers of these. The C-32 acid is noticeably more abundant than either the C-33 or C-31 acids. Minor amounts of nickel etioporphyrins also are present. These porphyrins are believed to have been derived from the chlorophyll α synthesized by algae that inhabited Eocene Lake Gosiute. The transformations to porphyrins occurred under the influence of high pH, a reducing environment, and geological time.