I am looking to start a PhD in oil spill detection forensic, whereby we are able to rapidly implement ambient sampling, analysis, typing, and screening of possible multiple sources (vessels and others) in port areas to determine what the oil type is (bunkers, wastes, others, etc), likely sources and definitive non-sources.
The intent is to focus sampling and compliance resources away from likely non-sources (especially vessels on limited time frames and expensive port visits that would otherwise need to be detained as possible suspects), to speed up level one and level two type screening, so as to be able to say with confidence and evidence that a particular "possible" source is categorically NOT the source and let it move on, without compromising future legal defences for prosecutions and compensation.
My intent is to find (develop, adapt, adopt, assess) a simple, robust, rapidly deployed (hopefully hand-held) technology and device able to provide on-site (wharf edge) initial results to achieve the above outcomes.
Early stages of developing proposal so all answers (critique/comment) appreciated.
You may find the following useful:
Wang and Stout (2010) 'Oil Spill Environmental Forensics: Fingerprinting and Source Identification' Academic Press London
There are some technologies for detecting oil spills based on excited UV and measurement of fluorescence
http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/oil/fss/fss06/chase_2.pdf
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11802-014-2098-3#page-1
Radar based oil detection system
http://www.miros.no/download/osd/DB_099_v3_MirosOSD_Brochure.pdf
Characterization by SAR imagery
file:///C:/Users/user1/Downloads/0deec52526f867823f000000.pdf
I have recently met a young start-up company, which produces equipment you look for (I think). Maybe you can contact them: www.oceanvisuals.no
Whilst I agree with Ernest that a number of spectroscopic and photometric methods can be used to supplement chromatographic data there is no better starting point than looking at the distribution of chain length that the GC indirectly gives you. I would seriously consider a portable GC system if you need to do analysis in the field.
I agree with Mr Newman, identification of an oil is posible ony by GC-MS analysis of fractionated sample (aliphatic, aromatic at least) and measuring ratio of N alcane / iso alcane/ cicloalcane/ aromatic components, in the C10- C 40 boiling point range.
Biomarker analysis is an additional way to identification of an oil source, if we have old pollution combined with newer ones. I have heard about GC- TOF portable systems, but I have no experience in this area.
Thank you all for your responses. I will look into all. At this point unless a portable GC-MS is able to be simply operated by a standard enfrcement or compliance officer to court eevidential level quality - similar to a road side breath alcohol analysus - then it may be too complex for the end use i want. Or the end use requires this, in which case i neex to rethink the approach. I am not looking to match the field sample with a ship or other sample at this point. Only to screen out samples it cannot be matched to -i.e. wont be a match or source.. This is a very different way of tjinking for many analytical chemists. Evidential matching via lab based GC-MS or GC-FID and biomarkers will follow later. The purpoae is to optimise search and sampling. Cheers PI
I would point out that gc-ms has been used on planetary landing systems with no human intervention on site. I think it should be possible to build the device you need. The problem will be the cost.
Also
If you are looking for a screening test I cannot see why this needs to be defensible in court. Surely you will be taking formal samples for the purpose of prosecution or civil action. For several years I worked in a lab which did screen testing to look for the addition of water to beer.At the time the statutory method was a drawn out distillation method but we used a rapid GC method and a measurement of sample density to predict the original gravity of the beer sample. These days the UK declares beer on the ABV rather than OG so it would be even quicker. The analysis was done in the lab with a rapid turnround time prior to the trading standards officers collecting the formal samples. Perhaps this type of approach could be incorporated into your very worthwhile scheme.
In response to your comment on roadside breath testing I would point out that the CrVI to CrIII reaction used in the UK's original breath test method would never have been defensible in court and could only be used as providing sufficient evidence for an arrest because the legislation was written to allow it. Whatever your success in the scientific field it will be a great challenge from the legislative point of view.
I wish you the best of luck in your research and will follow the results closely.
Thanks Alan. The reason for the screening process is that despite the positivity of a full Nordtest protocol in identifying a suspect, Australian law notes that if another suspect is present (ship in the harbour) at the time of (or immediately preceding a spill) and this is not tested (for varous reasons - sometimes because they have sailed out of country) this is sufficient to raise reasonable doubt. Which is why there are so few successful maritime pollution prosecutions here. So to aid the process i am proposing to have ascreening process to identify the pollutant field sample and determine its general character quickly. This may aid in determining priority sampling locations or sources - fuel or waste or bilge or land-based. In a ship as many as 40-50 spaces need to be sampled at a minimum of 3 separate samples. If there are 10 ships in the frame (some of which may be enroute to foreign ports and require international sam0le management) we are looking at a logistically difficult and expensive process even before analysis costs. Using local samples and databases within a port i hope to be able set up a system of a library of local fuels etc. If the field sample is a waste then all ships need to be sampled. But a local fuel then only those bunkering need to be sampled, saving on time and expense and removing the defence of "it wss the unsampled one that left, your Honour!".
Alan. Would you mind if i found a suitable time to call and discuss with you?
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