AN ULTRASENSITIVE MICROTRACE PROCEDURE FOR MONITORING THE ORIGIN, MOVEMENT AND FATE OF ANY LIQUID OR SOLID MATERIAL

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB91/00719 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 29, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 29, 1992 PCT Filed May 7, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/17265 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 14, 1991A method of monitoring the movement of a material which comprises adding to the material, as a microtrace additive, DNA molecules, sampling the resulting material after movement thereof and detecting the presence of said microtrace additive in the sample. The method is particularly suitable for use in monitoring the movement of oil shipments and the microtrace additive is selected such that it will remain in the oil phase in the event the oil is dispersed in water e.g. sea water.