Studies of the synthesis, environmental occurrence and toxicity of unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of hydrocarbons
type: CreativeWork
description: The occurrence of unresolved complex mixtures of hydrocarbons (UCMs) in the aliphatic fraction of marine sediments and organisms from areas impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons is well documented and widely accepted as an indication of fossil fuel contamination. In contrast, the presence of an aromatic UCM is often ignored and environmental concentrations of aromatic UCM hydrocarbons in marine biota and sediments are rarely reported. The aims of this study were to establish the quantitative significance of aromatic UCMs in environmental samples and to assess the toxicological significance of both aliphatic and aromatic UCMs. A reproducible method was developed and validated for the analysis and quantification of petroleum hydrocarbons in mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue. Emphasis was placed upon development of a method which minimized losses of more volatile, lower molecular weight, toxicologically significant hydrocarbons, without compromising recovery of higher molecular weight compounds which are useful for source identification in environmental monitoring schemes. Analysis of mussels from a small number of U. K. coastal locations indicated that aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs may form a significant proportion (ca 20 %) of the total hydrocarbon body burden of mussels from areas contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Aromatic UCM hydrocarbons were not observed in mussels from relatively uncontaminated areas but concentrations of 430 μg g'' (dry wt tissue) were measured in mussels from heavily impacted areas. Aliphatic UCM concentrations ranged from 7- 3445 μg gg' (dry wt tissue). For the purposes of toxicological studies, a low molecular weight model aliphatic UCM hydrocarbon, 4-propyloctane (4-PO) was synthesised. Two low molecular weight model aromatic hydrocarbons 7- cyclohexyltetralin and 7-cyclohexyl-l-propyltetralin were also synthesised using a modification of the Haworth synthesis. All three target compounds and synthetic intermediates were characterised by NMR, …
abstract: The occurrence of unresolved complex mixtures of hydrocarbons (UCMs) in the aliphatic fraction of marine sediments and organisms from areas impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons is well documented and widely accepted as an indication of fossil fuel contamination. In contrast, the presence of an aromatic UCM is often ignored and environmental concentrations of aromatic UCM hydrocarbons in marine biota and sediments are rarely reported. The aims of this study were to establish the quantitative significance of aromatic UCMs in environmental samples and to assess the toxicological significance of both aliphatic and aromatic UCMs. A reproducible method was developed and validated for the analysis and quantification of petroleum hydrocarbons in mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue. Emphasis was placed upon development of a method which minimized losses of more volatile, lower molecular weight, toxicologically significant hydrocarbons, without compromising recovery of higher molecular weight compounds which are useful for source identification in environmental monitoring schemes. Analysis of mussels from a small number of U. K. coastal locations indicated that aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs may form a significant proportion (ca 20 %) of the total hydrocarbon body burden of mussels from areas contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Aromatic UCM hydrocarbons were not observed in mussels from relatively uncontaminated areas but concentrations of 430 μg g'' (dry wt tissue) were measured in mussels from heavily impacted areas. Aliphatic UCM concentrations ranged from 7- 3445 μg gg' (dry wt tissue). For the purposes of toxicological studies, a low molecular weight model aliphatic UCM hydrocarbon, 4-propyloctane (4-PO) was synthesised. Two low molecular weight model aromatic hydrocarbons 7- cyclohexyltetralin and 7-cyclohexyl-l-propyltetralin were also synthesised using a modification of the Haworth synthesis. All three target compounds and synthetic intermediates were characterised by NMR, …
author: Wraige, Emma Jane
language: eng
keywords: Pollution, Water Pollution, Sewage Chemistry, Organic Toxicology, Water, Marine organisms
date published: 1997-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:48:35Z
provider: University of Plymouth
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Plymouth