Use of Total Organic Carbon as an Indicator of Contamination from an Oil Refinery, South‐Central Kansas

Abstract

AbstractWater samples collected from 26 sites at an abandoned oil refinery in south‐central Kansas were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC) and specific volatile and semivolatile organic compounds by gas‐chromatography/mass‐spectrometric methods. Results from a Spearman‐rho correlation analysis between TOC concentration and the number of compounds (correlation coefficient = 0.71) and TOC concentration and total concentration of compounds identified (correlation coefficient = 0.83) indicate correlations significant at the 0.01 level.Although TOC data alone would not be sufficient to evaluate hazards posed by oil‐refinery wastes, results of the correlation analysis performed using data collected from the site in Kansas indicate that TOC data can be used effectively to delineate petroleum‐related ground water contamination and to help identify sources of ground water contaminants. TOC data collected from a large number of temporary sampling points during the initial phases of an investigation will provide an estimate of the extent of hydrocarbon contamination and allow placement of monitoring wells and more detailed sampling in appropriate areas.