Critical Evaluation of Crude Oil and Sediments from Selected Areas of the Niger Delta
Keywords:
Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Pristane/phytane ratio, Molecular Weight.Abstract
Understanding the occurrence, composition, and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) is crucial for assessing anthropogenic contributions and identifying the sources of AHCs in the environment. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing the concentrations, distribution patterns, and compositional characteristics of AHCs present in crude oil and sediments from the Udu, Ethiope East, and Ughelli North Local Government Areas. A total of nine crude oil samples and ten sediment samples were gathered from the research area. The concentrations of AHCs in these samples were quantified using gas chromatography with a Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) following extraction with a hexane/dichloromethane mixture and subsequent purification using a silica gel/alumina packed column. Analysis of the molecular indices indicated that the AHCs present in the sediments originated from marine biogenic, terrestrial biogenic, and petrogenic sources, whereas the hydrocarbons in the crude oil were derived exclusively from marine and terrestrial biogenic sources.
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