Comparison of purge and trap GC/MS and spectrophotometry for monitoring petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in oilfield produced waters

Results of using a field spectrophotometer and its appropriate protocols as a surrogate method for an oilfield produced water treatment process is presented. Methylene chloride extractions of the produced water before and after treatment maintained a yellow color pigment that was directly proportional to the hydrocarbon concentration. From this, an absorption spectrum and standard curve were developed. A resultant linear plot of the standard curve indicated that there is an excellent correlation (r²=0.9847) between the varying concentrations and the associated absorbance values at a wavelength of 400 nm. Total n-alkane concentration comparisons between the laboratory GC/MS analysis and the spectrophotometry analysis generated data of similar accuracy and precision at concentrations ranging from 1 to 137 mg/l (alpha=0.05). Linear comparisons between GC/MS and spectrophotometric coefficients were near unity, with the constant being near zero, with a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.99. Based on this study, spectrophotometry is a complimentary method to GC/MS for determining total n-alkane concentrations in oilfield produced water samples.     

Oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons with oxygen in a radiofrequency plasma

The reactions of three aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, and styrene, with oxygen in a radiofrequency (r) plasma were investigated. Benzene was oxidized to yield phenol as a single volatile organic product. Similarly, toluene gave the ring oxidation products, cresols, as well as considerable amounts of methyl oxidation products, consisting mainly of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol. In contrast, the oxidation of styrene took place predominantly on the olefinic double bond to produce styrene oxide On basis of the products and effects of reaction variables, r power and flow rates of hydrocarbons and oxygen, on the reaction rate, the oxidation mechanism was discussed, particularly focusing on the intermediate species responsible for the formation of major products.     

Coupling of thermal desorption in modified closeable sampling columns with wide-bore capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometric detection

In contrast to usability of Curie-point pyrolysis at 700°C directly attached to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for determination of organic wood preservatives in waste wood samples the investigation method reported here consists of thermal desorption at temperatures about 260°C in connection with GC-MS for peak identification or GC with flame ionization detection for quantitative analyses. So-called “modified closeable sampling columns” are used as batch-reactor in thermal desorption experiments. Desorbed vapours can be introduced on capillary columns without sample discrimination and without a disturbing lost of resolution. In this manner a lot of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determinated in waste wood samples, especially in railway sleepers.     

Caste and Population Specificity of Termite Cuticule Hydrocarbons

The composition of hydrocarbons from the termites Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi and Kalotermes flavicollis Fabr. belonging to different castes and populations was determined using GC and mass spectrometry. The role of cuticular hydrocarbons in olfactory recognition of termite caste and population status was demonstrated.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 3–6, January–February, 2005.     

Analysis of Essential Oil from the Needles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Growing in Algeria

The needle oil of the Algerian maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) growing in natural habitats in Sidi Feradj (Algiers region) was obtained by hydrodistillation in 0.3% yield and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. More than 46 compounds amounting to 65.2% of the total oil were identified. The main components were β-caryophyllene (26.6%), allo-aromadendrene (12.5%), and α-humulene (4.3%). __________ Published in Kimiya Prirodnikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 445–447, September–October, 2005.     

Computer interactive identification system for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase microcolumn liquid chromatography

Summary A computer interactive identification system is proposed which is based on the relationship between retention and molecular properties such as the size and shape of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This system offers an automatic analytical process for liquid chromatography, providing a reliable identification of the separated components. The identification can be further enhanced by the use of multiple detectors such as a multichannel UV detector. The system can be used for optimization procedures, resulting in a highly automatic complex analytical system.     

Developments in the use of chromatographic techniques in marine laboratories for the determination of halogenated contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Chromatography has been an important tool in marine laboratories. Since the 1960s, marine laboratories have been involved in the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Column chromatography and liquid chromatography (LC) techniques have been used, mainly in the clean-up phase, while gas chromatography (GC) has been used extensively in the final determination of these contaminants. Developments have been observed from the use of packed GC columns, via capillary columns to the use of heart-cut multi-dimensional GC and comprehensive multi-dimensional GC. The progress made in interlaboratory studies and the availability of certified reference materials are discussed.     

SOLUBILITIES OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND DI-REGION THEORY

By using the relationship equation of Partition coefficients with water solubilities for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we have estimated the solubilities of PAHs. In addition the high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) method has been used for the indirect determination of solubilities of PAHs. t3ased on the di-region theory, We have studied the relationship of the solubilities of PAHs with carcinogenicity and introduced the solubility parameter into the di-region theory equation. The calculated carcinogenicity of PAHs from the obtained equation shows little difference from that calculated from Dai Qianhuan's equation.     

CARBONIZED FIBROUS RESIN AS A NEW SORBENT FOR SAMPLING POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN AMBIENT AIR

1. INTRODUCTION When investigating contaminated sites it is often essential to determine specific pollutants in a large number of ambient air samples. Amongst these sites, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major class of compounds that hav…     

Separation of isomers of saturated polycyclic hydrocarbons in packed capillary columns with graphitized thermal carbon black

Summary Using the example of perhydrophenanthrene, perhydroanthracene and cyclopentanodecalin isomers a possibility is shown to use packed capillary columns containing graphitized thermal carbon black for a complete separation of high-boiling mixtures of polycyclic saturated hydrocarbon isomers in accordance with the geometric structure of their molecules.