Recent contributions of high resolution gas chromatography to the analysis of environmental hydrocarbons

✍ Scribed by Bayona, J. M. ;Grimalt, J. ;Albaigés, J. ;Walker, W. ;de Lappe, B. W. ;Risebrough, R. W.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 503 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0935-6304
• DOI: 10.1002/jhrc.1240061104

✦ Synopsis

Analyses of hydrocarbon fractions from different areas of the marine environment are described to illustrate the possibilities and limitations of high resolutiongaschromatography(HRGC) in the analysis of environmental samples. Examples are given of dissolved, particulate, and sedimentary hydrocarbons and organochlorine compounds; the importance of an adequate sampling of the marine environment is stressed. HR chromatographic profiles obtained in two columns of low and high polarity (SE-52 and PEG 20M) permit the sources and transport pathwaysof both natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbonsto be traced. Analysis of tissues of marine mammals, which metabolize or excrete many of the biogenic and petrogenic hydrocarbons present in other areas of the marine environment, may provide an opportunity to obtain relatively clean profiles of many anthropogenic compounds of interest. The plotting of mass chromatograms from data compiled by COM-GC-MS remains the most appropriate method for the conclusive identification of these compounds.