Identification of Petroleum Products by Chromatographic FIuorescence Methods JACOB'A. SCHULDINER' 2603 Maryland Aue., Baltimore, Md. SAMPLING PROCEDURE
Our natural resources are not unlimited. Pollution by waste fuel, lubricating, and bilge oils is preventable. Eaoh year t h i s menace causes untold damage to our inland fisheries, migratory water fowl, and beaches. It results in unsightly harbors and fire hazards to piers and shipping. Ships are so isolated, especially when under way or a t night, that it is difficult to prove pollution legally. A method was found useful in prosecuting harbor pollution violators in Baltimore harbor and in the upper Chesapeake Bay mea. It resulted in many convictions and was responsible for periods during which pollutions ceased. This technique was also applied to the identification of the souroe of petroleum crudes. Various crude, semirefined, and refined petroleum products give oharaoteristie spot chromatograms by this method. It is possible that other uses will be found, in the petroleum industry, for rapid identifioation of its numerous products by similar methods.
The government agencies detailed inspectors who obtnincd samples of oil slick found floating in Baltimore harbor, the upper Chesapeake, and its tributaries. The samples were obtained by tying a string around the neck of a smsll wide-mouthed bottlc,
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HE simplimty and speed of chromatographic fluorescence . " . analysis, when applied to the field of petroleum products, are easily demonstiated. A spot chromatogram is adequate for identifying the 8ource of crude petroleums and their derivatives. When a crude is fractionated or cracked, a whole series of products is formed, and as a rule, each derivative will produce a different visual or fluorescence radial pattern. These spot chromatograms identify the complex products formed. Mixtures of petroleum products produce composite chromatograms characteristic of the mixture. This fluorescence method and its visual p t t e r n have been applied to the forensic problem of harbor and beach pollution with fuel and lubricating wastes. The source of crude petroleums can be identified similarly. HARRORANDBEACHPOLLUTIONPRORLEM
Figure 1. Typical Fuel Oil Pollution
The conversion of ships from coal to oil burning brought in its wake an important oil pollution problem. In the past decade the pollution of harbors, rivers. and beaches has increased tremendously. Although there are adequate
agencies, the spot chromatogram method was devise,' for the identification of t h source of harbor pollution. Present addresa, NorfolK N a d Shipyard, Portsmouth. I
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Figure 2. Fluoreseenee Chromatograms of Petmleum Oils in Ultraviolet Light A . 1. Bosohn crude, Curaoao. N.W.I. wude Las Piedras Venezuela 2. BOSCBII 3. Lagunillas &de, Las Piedrss, Venezuels 4. Crude oil, Laa Piedrhs, Veneruelk 5.
Merioan crude, Tampioo. Mexico
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3. Pollvtion ail, Baltimore harhos Bilge Esso barge Fuel bil, Germany
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SS Coral sed oil on deck S S Cord Sea: fuel oil on side 01 hull Pollution oil. harbor S S Cam Mohican. fuel oil
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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Western Mary.ailway r pollution. Pa8.
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and dragging it across the surface of the oil slick. Suspected ships were then boarded. Samples were obtained in lnunce wide-mouthed bottles of bunker fuel oils, bilges, and loose oil on the decks or sides of the vessel above the water line, an adjacent docks, fuel intake valves, etc. Figure 1 is a typical oil slick. Figures 3 to 5 show chromatograms obtained in various legal actions. Figure 2 shows the fluorescence of spat chromatograms under ultraviolet rays. Figure 3 shows direct comparisons of chromatograms from harbor pollution slicks and the corresponding oils obtained on suspected vessels for evidence. Figure 4 showschromatograms from various nonpolluting sources. Figures 6 and 7 show foreign crudes and fuel oil types. SPOT CHROMATOGRAM
Ordinary white unbacked blotting paver serves as an adequate
pattern formation. For oils of low viscosity 1 to 3 drops are applied to the center of each rectangle with a ipet Medium to-
