Detection of Trace Amounts of Oil in Sea Water by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy is demonstrated to be a valuable technique for estimating petroleum residue concentrations in sea water when large numbers of samples must be analyzed. A recommended procedure is presented, along with some concentrations observed in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, and along a section between Halifax and Bermuda.

Occurrence and Distribution of Aliphatic and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Waters along Coastal Area of Suez Gulf

“…This fact was confirmed by the CPI (Carbon Preference Index), values close to unity could indicate an oil contamination. However, Table 3 shows values ranged between, 3.812-81.832 from CPI which indicate microbial contributions of long chain n-alkanes or microbial alteration of terrestrial n-alkenes (34) cannot be excluded. It is noted that large envelop of unresolved complex mixtures (UCM) was the major chromatographic feature observed for this sample.…”

“…The transportation traffic results in chronic marine pollution discharges of oil ballast water and tank washings by vessels, operational spills from vessels loading or unloading at ports, accident spills from foundered vessels, and leaks from vessels in transit in the Suez bay. It is generally stated that water could be considered polluted when the hydrocarbon concentration is higher than (2.0 ug / L) (34) . Gas chromatographic analysis Gas chromatographic profiles Surface water samples gave chromatograms similar to those obtained for petroleum weathered profiles which are consisting of a number of peaks, representing abundant peaks over a wide n-alkanes range starting from n-C 10 up to n-C 37 (Fig.…”

“…Weathering ratio WR = (nC 23 -nC 34 ) / (nC 11--nC 22 ) (39) , the weathering ratio which varies from 1.8094 to 111.182 indicating high weathering (Table 3). This can be confirmed by observing the low concentrations of low molecular weight, n-hydrocarbons (Fig.…”

“…Sides from anthropogenic sources, hydrocarbons also have several natural sources, such as terrestrial plant waxes, marine phytoplankton and bacteria, biomass combustion and digenetic transformation of biogenic precursors (4) . The odd/even n-alkane concentration ratio betweenC 10 and C 34 , commonly referred to as the carbon preference index (CPI), has been used to indicate their sources. Pristane (Pr) to phytane (Ph) ratio is also of interest since high values are reliable indicator of the absence of petroleum and clearly indicate a marine biological origin (5) although low values do not reflect the presence of petroleum (6) .…”

Characterization of microbial isolates from an estuarine ecosystem: relationship of hydrocarbon utilization to ambient hydrocarbon concentrations

“…Both extracts were combined, and the water was frozen out by chilling in a -76°C freezer for 15 min. The volume was reduced to less than 10 ml in a Kuderna-Danish evaporative concentrator.…”