Trace analysis of hydrocarbons in Porites coral cores from the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

Brief description

Short coral cores were collected from 28 Porites coral colonies at four reef sites (Jurayd, Jana, Karan and Gosp-4) in the Arabian Gulf in January-February 2003. The coral cores were mounted, sliced and X-rayed to reveal annual density banding patterns. Fifteen of the 28 cores were sufficiently intact for accurate identification of year bands and chemical analysis.Samples were cut from one or two slices of each core down to the earliest year band. Samples chosen for analysis included the 1991 and where possible, the 1983 year bands. Samples were then cut into year-bands and pieces of coral belonging to one year band were placed into separate solvent cleaned 20ml glass vials.After extraction using dichloromethane and sonication and being passed through a column containing sodium sulphate, samples were scanned by ultraviolet fluorescence spectroscopy (UVF) and were then analysed using gas chromotography and mass spectroscopy detection (GCMS). The purpose of this research was to conduct a study of hydrocarbon biomarkers in corals as part of an assessment of the impact of the 1991 oil spill on Arabian Gulf coral reefs. Growth data derived from these cores are described in the metadata record "Growth records in Porites coral cores from the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia"

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Statement: Statement: Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy detection (GCMS):The instrument system used was an Agilent 6890 GC coupled with a 5973 MSD, using pulsed pressure splitless injection into an HP-5MS capillary column (30 m, 0.25 mm, 0.5 µm).Standard operating procedures (SOPS) for the organic chemistry analysis were provided in the first QA report (Burns, 2003). Methods were based on IOC/UNEP/IAEA (1992), Readman et al. (1996), Ehrhardt and Burns (1999). The methods were consistent with US EPA method 8270 or 525.2 for Environmental Semivolatiles, and the USCG methods for oil in water (ATSM D 5412-93 and D 3328-90).References: Burns KA (2003) Arabian Gulf Coral Project Analytical Quality Assurance Report No 1, July 2003. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 70 p.Ehrhardt MG and Burns KA (1999) Preparation of lipophilic organic seawater concentrates. In: Grasshoff K, Kremling K and Ehrhardt M (eds) Methods of Seawater Analysis 3rd Edition. VCH Publishers, Weinheim, Germany.Ehrhardt MG and Burns KA (1999) Adsorption chromotography of organic seawater concentrates. In: Grasshoff K, Kremling K and Ehrhardt M (eds) Methods of Seawater Analysis 3rd Edition. VCH Publishers, Weinheim, Germany.Ehrhardt MG and Burns KA (1999) Fluorometric determination of dissolved petroleum residues. In: Grasshoff K, Kremling K and Ehrhardt M (eds) Methods of Seawater Analysis 3rd Edition. VCH Publishers, Weinheim, Germany.IOC/UNEP/IAEA (1992) Determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine sediments. IOC Manual and Guides No. 20 Rev. 1, 1992. 97p.Readman JW, Tolosa I, Law AT, Bartocci J, Azemard S, Hamilton T, Mee LD, Wagner A, Le Tissier M, Roberts C, Downing N and Price ARG (1996) Discrete bands of petroleum hydrocarbons and molecular organic markers identified within massive coral skeletons. Marine Pollution Bulletin 32(5) 437-443.Process Step 1 Description: Organic chemistry analysis

Notes

Credit
Burns, Kathryn A, Dr (Principal Investigator)