Buddhadasa, Saman (2002) Methodologies for the analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons extracted from contaminated soils. PhD thesis, Victoria University of Technology.

Abstract

Australian research into TPH and BTEX test methods has, to date, not been coordinated and no standard methods have been agreed to. Overseas research also lacks acceptable solutions for the standardisation of TPH and BTEX methodologies. Since Australia carries out many thousands of analyses of TPH and BTEX on contaminated soils annually research into and assessment of current methods is required to demonsfrate the effects on outcomes of method choice. In the Australian context the problem of developing standard methods for the analysis of hydrocarbon contamination of soil, and establishing a more scientific basis for commercial operations has been addressed in this thesis. In particular, problems associated with establishing TPH and BTEX analysis have been critically examined with a view to exposing shortcomings and suggesting possible solutions. The study includes an assessment of the relationship between measurements in the field and in the laboratory for TPH (C6-C9) and BTEX; an area where there are known to be frequent disagreements. This study confirms this problem and aims to educate practitioners of the limitations of field measurement.

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