A direct comparison of UV fluorescence and GC/MS data of lipophilic open-ocean seawater extracts Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Fluorescence signals of lipophilic seawater extracts continue to be used for assessing concentrations of oil residues in seawater. However, spilled fossil fuels undergo changes in composition by partial evaporation and microbial as well as chemical degradation. In addition, seawater may contain recently biosynthesized substances with fluorescence characteristics similar to or identical with those of oil residues. The relation of fluorescence signals of lipophilic extracts of seawater not obviously contaminated to compounds occurring in petroleum has thus been a matter of recurrent debate. Such a relationship was established by comparison of UV fluorescence spectra and GC/MS data of hexane extracts from surface seawater at a sampling station in the Sargasso Sea near the island of Bermuda. © 1989.

published proceedings

  • Marine Chemistry

citation count

  • 21

complete list of authors

  • Ehrhardt, Manfred||Knap, Anthony

publication date

  • April 1989