Forensic Characterization of Gasoline Releases Impacting the Environment

A Forensic Approach for Assessing Modes of Subsurface Petroleum Releases

“…Separate-phase petroleum (light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL)) is preferable for chemical fingerprinting [1]. The chemical signature of LNAPL is compared against known standards and the closest match identifies the fuel.…”

“…PIANO is an acronym for n-paraffins, iso-paraffins, aromatics, naphthenes and olefins. PIANO compounds are the predominant hydrocarbon classes in gasoline and based on certain ratios, one can often identify: (1) the gasoline's weathering; (2) how it was manufactured and its octane rating, and (3) whether it complies with regulatory standards [1]. The three factors are often central to fingerprinting or dating fugitive gasoline.…”

“…Because of its high freezing point, p-xylene is often removed from avgas, which is a means of differentiating avgas from other gasolines. An important feature of avgas is its high octane rating, which is estimated through the ratio of iso-octane to methyl-cyclo-hexane [8] and other techniques discussed in [1].…”

“…Identifying Petroleum ProductsIn the United States, over 300 million gallons of gasoline are produced daily. The quantity, per capita, is not much different in Canada, Western Europe or Japan[1]. Lesser amounts of motor diesel fuel are produced, but that quantity is increasing.…”