Gas chromatographic fingerprinting of crude oil from Idu-Ekpeye oil spillage site in Niger-delta, Nigeria |
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Authors: | Inimfon A Udoetok Leo C Osuji |
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Institution: | (1) Akwa Ibom State University of Technology, University Town, P. M. B. 1167 Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria;(2) Department of Industrial and Pure Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323 Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | Pristane Phytane Oxic PAH Petrogenic Pyrogenic Fingerprints |
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