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Infrared and gravimetric estimation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in water and sediment: Acase study of ondo coastal water, Nigeria

I.A.Ololade, L.Lajide, I.A.Amoo

The presence of pollutants in aquatic environment has become a source of worry to the global community. Levels of one of thesemajor aquatic pollutants, petroleumhydrocarbon, were studied in sediment obtained fromfive villages in Ilaje community of Ondo State, Nigeria. The samples were analysed using gravimetric and infrared(IR) spectroscopic methods. The results displayedwide variationswith concentration decreasingwith depth. The concentrations(in gg-1) in the water as recorded by the gravimetric(IR results in brackets)methods varied between 0.11(12.0) to 2.55(24.0) while in sediment between 61.8(24.0) to 199.3(135.0) respectively. The aliphatic components were found to be generally higher than the aromatic components. The data obtained displayed a low level of microbial degradation and high adsorptive sedimentation. The comparative assessment with the reference site is indicative of anthropogenic inputs of petroleumhydrocarbons due to oil spill, being the only noticeable source into this environment. The results showed that the gravimetric method is more sensitive to TPH in sediment while the IR is of better response to water.