title: Identification of ester metabolites from petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in groundwater using GC×GC-TOFMS.
abstract: In an effort to understand the nature and toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation metabolites, 2-dimensional gas chromatography linked to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC×GC-TOFMS) was used to conduct nontargeted analysis of the extracts of 61 groundwater samples collected from 10 fuel release sites. An unexpected result was the tentative identification of 197 unique esters. Although esters are known to be part of specific hydrocarbon degradative pathways, they are not commonly considered or evaluated in field studies of petroleum biodegradation. In addition to describing the compounds identified, the present study discusses the role for nontargeted analysis in environmental studies. Overall, the low toxicological profile of the identified esters, along with the limited potential for exposure, renders them unlikely to pose any significant health risk.
authors.affiliation: Exponent, Bellevue, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Kirk T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Chevron Energy Technology, Richmond, California, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mohler
authors.affiliation: Zemo and Associates, Incline Village, Nevada, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zemo
authors.affiliation: Exponent, Bellevue, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Sungwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Chevron Energy Technology, San Ramon, California, USA.
authors.forename: Asheesh K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tiwary
authors.affiliation: Chevron Energy Technology, San Ramon, California, USA.
authors.forename: Renae I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Magaw
authors.affiliation: Chevron Energy Technology, San Ramon, California, USA.
authors.forename: Catalina Espino
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.affiliation: Chevron Energy Technology, San Ramon, California, USA.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Synowiec
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004952:Esters; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Ester; Groundwater; Petroleum metabolite; Polar compound; Total petroleum hydrocarbons