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TRACE ANALYSIS FOR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN NATURAL WATERS
Citation:
Lysyj, I., G. Perkins, AND J. Farlow. TRACE ANALYSIS FOR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN NATURAL WATERS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-80/365.
Description:
A method of trace analysis of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons in natural water is described. The method is based on sparging water samples with nitrogen, adsorption of hydrocarbons on activated charcoal, followed by desorption into carbon disulfide and gas chromatographic analysis. The sensitivity of the method reaches into the 0.1 to 0.2 micrograms/L concentration range for individual aromatic hydrocarbons. The accuracy and reliability of the method was validated. The method was used in three field studies: dispersion of aromatic hydrocarbons discharged from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline southern terminal throughout Port Valdez; survey of the Atigun River Watershed after the oil spill on June 10, 1979; and chemical characterization of treated effluents from offshore oil extraction platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.