Rapid spilled oil analysis using direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry

• Published in: Environmental systems research Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 5 - 12
• Main Authors: Tikkisetty, Krishnaja, McCallum, Paige, Filewood, Taylor, Yan, Jeffrey, Kwok, Honoria, Brunswick, Pamela, Cody, Robert, Shang, Dayue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Additives; Biomarkers; Data processing; Direct analysis in real time; Discriminant analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Emergency preparedness; Emergency procedures; Emergency response; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Forensic science; Heat; Ions; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Multivariate analysis; Multivariate statistical analysis; Oil forensics; Oil Spill; Oil spills; Principal components analysis; Real time; Samples; Scientific imaging; Specific heat; Standardization; Statistical analysis; Statistics; Typing; Direct analysis in real time; Multivariate statistical analysis; Oil Spill; Oil forensics; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 2193-2697; 2193-2697
• DOI: 10.1186/s40068-023-00286-8

Background The biomarker diagnostic ratio analysis outlined by the European Committee for Standardization is considered the current gold standard in oil forensic analysis. However, it has a major limitation as an emergency response procedure in the case of a large scale oil spill due to the high number of samples collected, long GC/MS instrument run time, and the time-consuming data processing required. This current study utilized direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry to develop a rapid spilled oil screening method. An exploratory search of biomarkers and synthetic additives was conducted on reference oil samples of various types. To build a robust yet swift procedure for oil typing, specific heat maps were built with extensive reference sample modelling. These heat maps were then used to select relevant ions from which principal component analysis and discriminant analysis of principal component models were constructed to result in defensible oil classifications. Results The initial exploratory search of biomarkers and additives in the various reference oil samples resulted in promising preliminary matches. The heat map and multivariate statistical analysis oil typing method was applied to three unknown samples, all of which were classified accurately. Conclusion The merit of direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry on oil forensic was confirmed with the detected biomarkers compound class starting members and lubricating additives along with the successful application of heat maps and multivariate statistical analysis, providing a swift yet reliable screening tool for oil spill environmental monitoring and impact surveying.