The formation, reactivity, and fate of oxygen-containing organic compounds in petroleum-contaminated groundwaters: A state of the science review and future research directions

Phoebe Zito; Natasha Sihota; Rachel E Mohler; David C Podgorski

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170619

The formation, reactivity, and fate of oxygen-containing organic compounds in petroleum-contaminated groundwaters: A state of the science review and future research directions

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Mar 25:918:170619. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170619. Epub 2024 Feb 3.

Authors

Phoebe Zito¹, Natasha Sihota², Rachel E Mohler³, David C Podgorski⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. Electronic address: pazito@uno.edu.
² Chevron Technical Center, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583, USA.
³ Chevron Technical Center, 100 Chevron Way, Richmond, CA 94801, USA.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA; Pontchartrain Institute of Environmental Science, Shea Penland Coastal Education and Research Facility, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.

PMID: 38311075
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170619

Abstract

Hydrocarbon (HC) contamination in groundwater (GW) is a widespread environmental issue. Dissolved hydrocarbons in water are commonly utilized as an energy source by natural microbial communities, which can produce water soluble intermediate metabolite compounds, herein referred to as oxygen containing organic compounds (OCOCs), before achieving complete mineralization. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the literature focused on the state of the science for OCOCs detected and measured in GW samples collected from petroleum contaminated aquifers. In this review, we discuss and evaluate two hypotheses investigating OCOC formation, which are major points of contention in the freshwater oil spill community that need to be addressed. We reviewed over 150 articles compiling studies investigating OCOC formation and persistence to uncover knowledge gaps in the literature and studies that recommend quantitative and qualitative measurements of OCOCs in petroleum-contaminated aquifers. This review is essential because no consensus exists regarding specific compounds and related concerns. We highlight the knowledge gaps to progressing the discussion of hydrocarbon conversion products.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Biosynthesis; EEMs; NMR; Oil spill; UHR-MS.

Publication types

Review