Estimation of carbonate concentration and characterization of marine sediments by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is a well established method for the characterization of mineralogical and geochemical properties of marine sediments. Understanding the biogeochemical changes in marine ecosystems is challenging task since it requires adequate analytical techniques and efforts. Biogeochemical characteristics of twenty one marine sediment samples collected off Chennai coast, Bay of Bengal, India were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR peaks at 1460 cm−1 (stretching vibration) and 880 cm−1 (bending vibration) were used for carbonate determination. To verify the FTIR results, the obtained carbonate data were compared with carbonate values obtained by chemical analyses. The ranges of carbonate in sediments using FTIR and chemical analyses were 4.5-9.6% and 4.8-10%, respectively. The significant positive relationship was obtained between the carbonate results of FTIR and chemical analyses. This study demonstrates that instead of expensive and time consuming chemical methods, FTIR spectroscopic technique is found as a suitable, rapid and effective method for the quantification of carbonate in marine sediments.