Molecular-level evidence provided by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry for oil-derived doc in groundwater at Bemidji, Minnesota

Ananna Islam, Arif Ahmed, Manhoi Hur, Kevin Thorn, Sunghwan Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dissolved organic matter samples extracted from ground water at the USGS Bemidji oil spill site in Minnesota were investigated by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. Principle component analysis (PCA) of the elemental composition assignments of the samples showed that the score plots for the contaminated sites were well separated from those for the uncontaminated sites. Additionally, spectra obtained from the same sampling site 7 and 19 years after the spill were grouped together in the score plot, strongly suggesting a steady state of contamination within the 12 year interval. The double bond equivalence (DBE) of Ox class compounds was broader for the samples from the contaminated sites, because of the complex nature of oil and the consequent formation of compounds with saturated and/or aromatic structures from the oxygenated products of oil. In addition, Ox class compounds with a relatively smaller number of x (x < 8; x = number of oxygen) and OxS1 class compounds were more abundant in the samples from the contaminated sites, because of the lower oxygen and higher sulfur contents of the oil compared to humic substances. The molecular-level signatures presented here can be a fundamental basis for in-depth analysis of oil contamination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-132
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials
Volume320
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • Double bond equivalent
  • High resolution mass spectrometry
  • Oil spill
  • Petroleum

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