Determining Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sea Water Using Automated Solid Phase Extraction

Although not frequently a problem, recent incidents at sea have led to large amounts of crude oil being released and dispersed throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Originally presumed to be Louisiana Sweet Crude, sample testing later revealed a harsher form of crude containing a high amount of asphaltenes was actually being released. The differences are substantial, as Louisiana Sweet degrades more readily in nature than crude oil containing asphaltenes. While data is still mixed as to what type of oil is being released, the need for a fast and reliable method of testing still exists within the environmental industry of the Gulf Coast States.