GAS LIQUID-SOLID CHROMATO-GRAPHIC METHOD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCES OF OIL POLLUTION

A two-step gas chromatographic fingerprinting technique has been developed for the identification of petroleum that may be conveniently applied to oil spills. The first step consists of a gas chromatographic separation on non-polar silicone rubber (SE-30) which separates according to boiling point. Five arbitrary 20 degree cuts are made, then further separated by gas chromatography on columns of lithium chloride supported on diatomaceous silica (Chromosorb A). The advantage of this inorganic packing is its high thermal stability that permits the separation of high-boiling oil components not readily affected by weathering. It also has the added advantage of causing no "bleeding" problems that can complicate further analyses involving mass spectroscopy. The simultaneous use of the flame ionization detector and the Melpar sulphur detector provides highly characteristic fingerprints. This method has been applied to two heavy crude oils, and two fuel oils involved in oil spills from the "Arrow" and "Irving Whale" to demonstrate the potential of the method.

• Corporate Authors:

  Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

  580 Booth Street
  Ottawa, Ontario K14 OE4,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • George, Ae
  • Smiley, G T
  • Montgomery, D S
  • Sawatzky, H
• Publication Date: 1973-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 41 p.
• Serial:
  • Canada Mines Branch, Research Report
  • Publisher: Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Gas chromatography; Identification systems; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil spill identification
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051075
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-267 Res Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 1974 12:00AM