USING GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROSCOPY FINGERPRINT ANALYSES TO DOCUMENT PROCESS AND PROGRESS OF OIL DEGRADATION

One of the challenges in testing the effectiveness of bioremediation Products is the lack of a standardized testing protocol. One requirement of any such evaluation is baseline and benchmark analyses of the oil and its degradation processes. The method described uses high resolution gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). This method has been adapted from oil fingerprinting techniques used by our group for oil spill response to major spills such as T/V Exxon Valdez and T/V Megaborg It results in a high degree of chemical and spectral resolution from a single analysis that allows quantification of saturated hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), sulfur heterocycles, and selected biomarkers such as hopanes and steranes. We demonstrate that high resolution GC/MS and compound specific analyses are a viable and efficient method of analyzing the extent and progress of oil bioremediation and that it should be possible to standardize the method for monitoring the biodegradation of oil. We also present data that show increased useful information obtained from this method and suggest possible future uses for this expanded database.