Distribution of PAHs in Surface Soils from Petroleum Handling Facilities in Calabar

The level of concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface soils from petroleum handling facilities (kerosene tank, generating plant, petrol stations, mechanic workshops, leaking pipeline and air port fuel dump) from Calabar metropolis southeastern Nigeria was determined by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. The results show that total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) varied from 1.80 to 334.43 mg/kg with a mean of 50.31 mg/kg. The lowest value of 1.80 mg/kg was obtained from petrol station while the highest value of 334.43 mg/kg was obtained from facility characterised by petrol stations and mechanic workshops. The ratio of phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene, varied from 0.43 to 27.72 and from 0.14 to 17.76 respectively. These ratios indicate various sources for the PAH. The two to three ring PAHs are the most abundant. Based on the PAH ratios and content alone it is not possible to distinguish between contribution from motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline spillage, used engine oil or petroleum production. However, considering the area of the study, it is very likely that the major source of soil contamination is originating from petroleum product.     

Gas chromatographic fingerprinting of crude oil from Idu-Ekpeye oil spillage site in Niger-delta, Nigeria

Samples were collected from an oil polluted site in Niger-delta, Nigeria. Gas chromatographic analyses carried out on the samples revealed an abundance of n-alkanes within the n-C₈–n-C₂₃ region. The pristane/phytane ratio of 5.70 obtained for the samples depicted a plant/terrestrial source input and a possible oxic depositional environment. The n-C₁₇/pristane and n-C₁₈/phytane ratios of 2.80 and 2.77, respectively, suggested that the spilled oil was only slightly weathered, as corroborated by the presence of peaks in the aromatic hydrocarbon fingerprints. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions showed that the hydrocarbon fractions might have undergone combustion and/or that there was bush burning at the site prior to the oil spill incidence. This is supported by the abundance of high-molecular-weight PAHs which are pyrogenic in nature. High molecular weight PAHs are products of the combustion of petroleum or its products. The phenanthrene/anthracene ratio of 0.95, fluorathene/pyrene ratio of 2.23 and the ∑ (other three to six ringed PAHs)/∑ (five alkylated PAHs) ratio far greater than unity (4.10) also affirm this. On the other hand, the benzo (a) anthracene to chrysene ratio of 0.24 confirms the petrogenic origin of the spilled oil because chrysene which is highly abundant is a fossil PAH.