Abstract:

Samples of surf zone beach sand were collected to track the occurrence and degradation of alkane hydrocarbons on beaches of the West Florida Panhandle. Composite samples were air dried and extracted by standard procedures for analysis of alkanes found in the BP MC 252 well oil by GC. Alkanes were only found after beach oiling, and rapidly decreased to background levels.

Suggested Citation:

Snyder, Richard A.. 2014. Crude Petroleum in Northwest Florida Beach Sand, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties in Florida, 5-3-2010 to 4-4-2011.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7S46PW4

Purpose:

Monitoring crude petroleum concentrations via alkane fingerprinting of the beach sands at beaches in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties in Florida following the BP MC 252 well failure.

Data Parameters and Units:

2Metadata_and_SandOilTableF.xlsx-- MetaD: Metadata Identifier Sheet for Crude Petroleum in Northwest Florida Beach Sand, Purpose, Dates, Location, Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees), Methods, List of Abbreviations, Responsible Party. [01 Battery 234 at Fort Pickens, 02 Pensacola Fishing Pier, 03 University of West Florida Beach Property, 04 Navarre Fishing Pier, 05 River Road in Perdido Key, 06 Johnson Beach in Perdido Key]: Site ID, Date (MM/DD/YY), Sample ID, Sand Location (Intertidal, BackShore), PPM (mg crude petroleum/kg dry wt). Alkanes- Alakanes are chemical compounds that consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms Date- The date that the sample was taken Intertidal- Intertidal samples were taken between the high tide mark down to where sand was being washed by waves Media- Material sampled rpl- Indicates replicate sample Sample ID- Unique number given to each sample includes month, day year, and location Sand location- Beach zone where the sample was taken Site- Location of sample’s origin Site ID- Unique number given to each site PPM- Parts per million: mg crude petroleum/kg dry wt

Methods:

Collection: A Chain of Custody Sheet was filled out for samples. Sand samples were composite samples 1.5-3.0 cm in depth from the surface taken in intertidal zone of the beach and put on ice then stored frozen in the lab. Intertidal samples were taken between the high tide mark to where sand downslope was intermittently exposed by retreating waves. Extraction: Prior to extraction the sand was dried overnight in a laboratory hood at room temperature and then extracted. The dried sand received 1 gram of sodium sulfate per 10 grams of dried sand prior to extraction. Extractions were done by extracting the dried sample with dichloromethane three times. The dichloromethane extract was dried down at 38 C to 1ml for analysis. GC-FID Analysis: Alkanes were analyzed by GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection) and specific alkane patterns characteristic of crude petroleum were evaluated and other alkane patterns showing a non-petroleum origin were recorded as non-detects. An Internal Standard of n-Docosane (C-22) and crude oil standards were used for quantification of total crude petroleum expressed in PPM of crude petroleum.

Individual Files: