There are three parts in this project. Firstly, we collected 27 fresh gasoline and 40 blending stocks from 3 petroleum refineries and 180 fresh gasoline from 60 gas stations during the project period. The detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA) and GC/MS were employed to acquire chemical fingerprints of gasoline. After suitable compounds were selected for diagnostic ratio calculation, we successfully identified fresh gasoline from CPC and FPCC using principal components analysis (PCA). Secondly, we used Acinetobactor venetianus and petroleum refinery activated sludge to simulate the diesel biodegradation in environment and then established the correlation between diagnostic ratios of specific sulfur containing compounds and sulfur content. By applying such correlation to the regulatory timetable of diesel sulfur limit, we develop an approach for the age-dating of the diesel spills. Thirdly, we proposed the idea of promoting and implementing this petroleum identification method into real world application, with the hope of clarifying the responsibilities between two parties in the incidence.

Environmental forensics, Fresh gasoline, Detailed hydrocarbon analysis, GC/MS, Chemical fingerprint chromatogram, Diagnostic ratio, Principal component analysis, Age dating, Diesel, Invention patent