Harnessing the Power of FT-IR to Guarantee Water Safety - Ben Perston

Aglobal risk to environmental and human health Pollution of water with oil and grease is a significant risk to human and environmental health; therefore, effective detection and measurement of hydrocarbon contamination is essential. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has long been a standard method for measuring dispersed oil and grease in process water discharged from offshore oil operations, and has more recently gained application to a wider range of environmental samples and matrices. Contamination incidents creating health and environmental problems can range from major oil spills to small scale domestic disposal.

Large amounts of water are extracted during offshore oil operations, and this must be separated from the oil prior to being discharged back into the sea. However, the separation is not a simple task and recycled water is one of the largest contributors to offshore oil pollution1, eventually causing surface contamination and smothering marine life. Long term impacts, including acute toxic effects, can also be caused by specific chemical components of the oil2. This potential for harm emphasises the importance of rapid and accurate analytical methods that can be deployed in a variety of environmental testing applications.

Terrestrial sources of pollution are also responsible for a significant fraction of hydrocarbon pollution in coastal waters and sensitive environments like estuaries and wetlands: river and urban runoff sources contribute 20% of petroleum pollution within our oceans3. Accordingly, companies that discharge water into rivers or municipal drains are typically required to comply with discharge permits that specify limits of potentially hazardous materials, including hydrocarbons, to ensure that long-term environmental damage is averted. Ideally, this testing can be carried out on-site, ensuring a rapid response to any problems encountered.

Soil is an equally important part of the environment, and is just as vulnerable to pollution. Petroleum pollution can render polluted areas not only unfit for development but also dangerous for nearby communities and ecosystems. Hydrocarbons can easily pass into groundwater, making it unfit for use. If land is to be reclaimed for other uses after decommissioning an oil or gas facility, extensive testing must be carried out to ensure that the soil has not been contaminated. In the event of a spill being discovered, a rapid, portable analysis method can be used to make numerous measurements to accurately delineate the extent of the spill.