--> ABSTRACT: Using Petroleum Geochemistry Analytical Methods to Evaluate Bioremediation of Soils at Upstream Sites, by S. J. McMillen and D. K. Baskin; #91021 (2010)

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Using Petroleum Geochemistry Analytical Methods to Evaluate Bioremediation of Soils at Upstream Sites

McMILLEN, SARA J. and DAVID K. BASKIN

Traditional environmental analytical methods for evaluating bioremediation progress at upstream sites focus primarily on bulk petroleum parameters such as total hydrocarbons, or on a few toxic analytes such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's priority pollutant polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In comparison, analytical methods developed by petroleum geochemists can be used to more fully characterize chemical and molecular properties of crude oils. Petroleum geochemistry methods provide data on compound class composition, normal and branched alkane distribution, sterane and triterpane biomarker abundances, and amount and distribution of alkylated homologues of parent polyaromatic hydrocarbons, in addition to stable isotopic compositions (carbon, sulfur, nitrogen) of the various compound classes. None of these data are obtained by using typical environmental analytical methods. Data collected from petroleum geochemistry methods can be used to: (1) identify or verify the source of a crude oil spill, (2) assess the amount of biodegradation that has occurred naturally at old spill sites, (3) aid in predicting whether bioremediation will be successful at a given site, and (4) more accurately determine the composition of the hydrocarbon fraction remaining after bioremediation. The latter is an important component of risk-based site closure.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91021©1997 AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas.