RSK SOP 175 for Methane, Ethane, Ethene & Propane
Jan
20
Written by:
1/20/2015 12:00 AM
The presence of low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases in groundwater are used to indicate the progress of natural bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated sites due to the microbial degradation of heavier hydrocarbons. Typically, these are methane, ethane, ethene, and propane. In groundwater, these light hydrocarbons are determined with a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), using a static heated headspace procedure. Water samples are heated in partially-filled headspace vials, and upon reaching equilibrium, an aliquot of the headspace is injected directly into the GC-FID. The hydrocarbon gases can be determined to low parts-per-billion (10 µg/L) levels in water samples. Hydrogen (10 ug/L) and Carbon Dioxide (200 ug/L) can also be measured