Comparison of uv fluorescence and gas chromatographic analyses of hydrocarbons in sediments from the vicinity of the Argo Merchant wreck site

Journal Article · Wed Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1979 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01770000· OSTI ID:5219876

Hoffman, E J ^[1]; Quinn, J G; Jadamec, J R; Fortier, S H

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1. Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston

On December 15, 1976, the tanker Argo Merchant ran aground on Fishing Rip of Nantucket Shoals off the Massachusetts coast. During that week, about 28 x 10/sup 3/ metric tons of No. 6 fuel oil were spilled into the ocean. In order to determine the extent of possible sediment contamination in the vicinity of the wreck site and on Little George's Bank, the University of Rhode Island (URI) organized five cruises to the area. The data obtained from the first two survey cruises, examining a 4000 km/sup 2/ area, indicated that the sediment samples were contaminated with Argo Merchant oil only around the wreck sites. On the basis of these findings, a detailed sediment survey of the wreck site area was planned and conducted on URI's oceanographic vessel R/V Endeavor. USCDRDC chemists screened the sediments for their hydrocarbon content immediately after collection. These data were used to assign additional stations to provide more detail within the planned sampling grid. In addition to the analyses provided by the Coast Guard, the sediments were also analyzed at the Graduate School of Oceanography (URI) using gas chromatography. Since both groups analyzed samples from the same container, it was hoped that the two sets of data would provide an opportunity to compare, usng actual field samples, two different analytical techniques for determining sediment petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations.

• OSTI ID: 5219876
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 23:4/5; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ACCIDENTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROMETERS
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROMETERS