The determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in sewer sediment

Based on the available standards it is possible to analyze the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in sewer sediment. Guidelines included in the standard PN-EN 14039:2008 - Characterization of waste - Determination of hydrocarbon content in the range of C10 to C40 by gas chromatography and in standard PN-EN ISO 16703: 2011 - Soil quality - Determination of content of hydrocarbon in the range C10 to C40 by gas chromatography are useful here. The results of analysis concerning elaboration of the methodology of petroleum hydrocarbons determination in sewer sediment based on available literature are presented in the article. According to carried out literature review and the possibilities of available data use, five temperature programs were initially selected. All temperature programs were tested on a standard sample (oil mixture). In the next stage one of prepared method to determine the amount of petroleum hydrocarbons in sewer sediment was applied for sewer sediment come from the combined sewer system. The verification of the sample preparation procedures according to available standards on real sediment revealed the difficulties. Finally, preliminary value of petroleum hydrocarbons concentrations in sewer sediment from the combined sewage system was determined.