GC/MS analysis of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment samples from the Niger Delta region.
Thirteen sediment samples from different locations in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria were analyzed for the presence of 16 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The specific target compounds for this study included naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, flourene, phenanthrene, anthracene, flouranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]flouranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. Four isotopically labeled polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (acanaphthene-d10, phenanthrene-d10, chrysene-d12 and perylene-d12) were used for internal standardization. All 16 PAHs were found in most of the thirteen samples with concentration ranging from 0.1 microg/kg to 28 microg/kg. It was also found that the 5 and 6-ring PAHs were present in higher concentrations than all the other compounds, indicating their high resistance to microbial degradation.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Lagos, Nigeria. chimezie@email.com
Chimezie
C
Anyakora
Anthony
A
Ogbeche
Pete
P
Palmer
Herbert
H
Coker
Grace
G
Ukpo
Celina
C
Ogah
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D009549:Nigeria; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical