Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the UV-induced fluorescence spectra of crude oil films on the sea surface

Abstract

As the main fluorescent substances in oils, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the basis of ultraviolet (UV)-induced fluorescence spectroscopy methods to detect oil films on the sea surface. The relative contents of PAHs in six crude oil samples and their effects on ultraviolet fluorescence spectra were studied. The PAHs were divided into four categories according to their fluorescence characteristics. Naphthalene series dominated the fluorescence spectra, which led to a main peak at 320-350 nm, but this showed no relationship with PAH content. The six oil samples could not be distinguished by differences in the fluorescence spectra in this range, but could be distinguished by the fluorescence spectra in the 350-380 nm band. The relative contents of dibenzothiophene and phenanthrene series showed significant positive correlations (R² = 0.96) with fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with GC-MS can be used to distinguish and identify crude oils.

Keywords: Correlation analysis; Fluorescence spectra; Oil identification; Oil spills; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.