Upgrade package for an existing gas chromatograph to analyze polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons

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The research in the Environmental Bioengineering Laboratory targets some of the environmental problems encountered in the petroleum and mining industries, as well as the agriculture sector. These include biotreatment of specific streams such as acid mine drainage, sulphide-laden waters and sour gases, containment of souring and biocorrosion in oil reservoirs, and control of odorous emissions (specially H2S) from livestock operations. The bacteria of sulphur cycle and the reactions which are carried-out by these bacteria are the key elements which link these projects. In addition, we are involved in an industrially funded collaborative research aiming to develop a biotechnology for remediation of soils and waters contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy petroleum compounds and naphthenic acids, with the latter being a major environmental issue associated with the processing of oil sands in western Canada. Detection and quantification of these contaminants is essential in our research. Presently, an ion chromatograph and a gas chromatograph are used in our research as the main analytical instruments. The purpose of the current proposal is to obtain funding for the purchase and installation of an upgrade package to expand the capability of the existing gas chromatograph so that the detection and quantification of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy petroleum compounds and naphthenic acids becomes possible. This will assist us to study the bioremediation processes effectively and in a timely manner and eventually develop a biotechnology for the clean-up of a variety of environmental pollutants.