Identifier

etd-04112016-104522

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Environmental Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Oil source-fingerprinting is an environmental forensics technique that uses analytical chemistry to determine the origin of oil residues in environmental samples by comparison to a known or suspected source oil. Currently, the only standardized method for oil source fingerprinting is a qualitative approach that is very effective in almost every oil spill response situation. However, the need for quantitative oil source-fingerprinting methods to complement the qualitative determinations is extremely desired. The research herein aims to utilize data generated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methodologies to test two different quantitative techniques: diagnostic biomarker ratio analysis and chemometrics. The most common crude oil constituents used for oil source-fingerprinting are the oil biomarker compounds. Oil biomarkers are polycyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon molecules typically resistant to environmental weathering (i.e., biological and physiochemical transformations). They are universal in crude oils and most petroleum products, and impart unique ratios in oils of different maturities and geographic sources. Diagnostic biomarker ratio analysis will be used to establish a suite of diagnostic biomarker ratios with statistical limitations that can differentiate oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, or Macondo 252 (MC252) oil, from other South Louisiana crude oils. This technique is not limited to MC252 oil. Diagnostic ratios can be determined and tested for any source oil. Current published research has documented weathering of several of the biomarker compounds used for oil source-fingerprinting. Any weathering of MC252 oil residues in the environment will adversely affect the diagnostic biomarker ratio analysis. Therefore, a more advanced quantitative technique, chemometrics, will use pattern recognition algorithms to determine the innate similarity of environmental oil residues to MC252 oil.

Date

2016

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Wilson, Vincent

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.779

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