Experimental simulation study on the influence of diagenetic water medium on sedimentary n-alkanes and their respective hydrogen isotopes

•The water medium had a significant effect on n-alkane nC21−/nC22+, ACL, and Pr/Ph.•The mean n-alkane δD difference between different water media is from 6‰ to 73‰.•The exchange of water and organic hydrogen was stronger in the acidic water medium.•The δD correlations among n-alkanes generated under different condition were established. In order to understand the influence of the diagenetic water medium on the hydrogen isotope of sedimentary n-alkanes, thermal simulation experiments were carried out involving the initial peat under the addition of alkaline saltwater, acidic freshwater and peat alone condition. The generated n-alkanes were analyzed in terms of molecule composition and hydrogen isotopic composition of individual n-alkanes. The results show that the addition of water had a significant effect on n-alkane nC21−/nC22+ ratio, ACL value and Pr/Ph ratio. The n-alkanes display significant heavier hydrogen isotopic composition from the alkaline saltwater added experiments, but obvious lighter hydrogen isotopic composition from the acidic freshwater added experiments. The difference of the average δD value of n-alkanes between the saltwater and freshwater experiments ranged from 6‰ to 73‰, and maximum difference occurred from the experiments of 350 °C. The exchange of inorganic hydrogen in water and organic hydrogen was more intensive in the acidic freshwater experiments than that in the alkaline saltwater experiments. The average δD value of n-alkanes generated under the participation of saltwater and freshwater media appear to be higher heavier along with the increase in experimental temperature. Also, the average δD value of n-alkanes generated from the saltwater added experiments was always higher than that from the freshwater added experiments. The correlations among the δD composition of n-alkanes generated under different condition were established. These results provide information to understand of the genesis of sedimentary n-alkanes formed under the participation of diverse diagenetic water media at various stages of maturity.