Source identification of an unknown spilled oil from quebec (1998) by unique biomarkers and diagnostic ratios of 'source-specific marker' compounds

摘要

This paper describes a case study in which forensic chemical analyses were conducted to determine the liability for the release of an unknown petroleum product into a river. On June 29th 1998, a fire broke out at a carpet factory in Acton Vale, Quebec. Two months after the fire. There were reports of significant amounts of oil on the surface of the river near the Factory. The source of the spilled oil was identified by the standard comparison of the chemical fingerprints of aliphatic, Aromatic, biomarker, and total petroleum hydrocarbon fractions, and was further confirmed by determining and Comparing the diagnostic ratios of a series of "source-specific marker" compounds, in particular isomers of polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated series of PAHs with the same alkylation groups.