DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AT A MARINE TERMINAL IN UNITED STATES USING IN-BOREHOLE GAS MONITORING

A time-series study was conducted to determine both the aggregate and specific Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) concentrations at a Marine Terminal. An in-situ aggregate data of VOC concentrations and some environmental parameters were logged by means of an in-borehole gas monitor called Gasclam (Ion Science, UK). A Tenax TA sorbent tube incorporated into and to work in parallel with the Gasclam was used to adsorb bulk concentrations of VOCs and subsequently desorbed (for characterization) using Thermal Desorption/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (TD/GC-MS) technique. The result shows aggregate VOC concentrations of 31385 ppm and 17140 ppm in wells I and II respectively over the monitoring period. The total concentrations of adsorbed VOCs in wells I and II are 4.17 x 10(2) mg/m(3) and 1.12 x 10(3) mg/m(3) respectively. Among the identified VOCs (many of which exceeded their standard limits) are those considered to be hazardous to human health and environment. The study revealed that the marine terminal site is potentially hazardous, and hence, requires active remediation.