Effects of Chemical Composition and Temperature for the Production of Volatile Fatty Acids During Anaerobic Decomposition Process of Marine Sinking Particles

Anaerobic decomposition experiments were performed to know the effect of chemical composition and temperature for the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from marine sinking particles. Sinking particles were obtained with sediment traps set in Aburatsubo Inlet, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, in February, May and August. Sinking particles collected in May were composed of higher fraction of chl. a than the other two months. February and May samples were used to perform the decomposition experiments. VFAs production rates were higher in May sample than February. The production rates increased with increase of incubation temperature, and order of production rates of four VFAs were acetate>n-butyrate>propionate>iso-butyrate at $10^{\circ}C\;and\;20^{\circ}C$. At $28^{\circ}C$, the production rate of propionate was higher than n-butyrate. Based on these results, it is considered that production of VFAs from sinking particles during anaerobic decomposition depends on the chemical composition and temperature.